Earlier today, Seminole County judge Kenneth Lester Jr. granted bail to George Zimmerman in the amount of $1 million.
STORY: Judge Gives George Zimmerman One Million Dollar Bond!
Provisions of Zimmerman’s bond state that he can’t have a bank account, or open a new one, must wear a GPS monitor, abide by a 6am to 6pm curfew and he must stay in Seminole County until his trial.
Upon hearing the news of Zimmerman’s $1 million bond, Trayvon Martin family attorney, Benjamin Crump, released the following statement on behalf of Trayvon’s parents:
“Understand that this isn’t a sprint to justice, but a long journey to justice that they must bear for their son.”
In his ruling, Judge Lester said:
“His [Zimmerman] lack of candor wasn’t limited to representation made by the Court and It appears to this court that the defendant is manipulating the system to his own benefit.”
Lester went on to say that it was “entirely reasonable” to believe that were it not for electronic monitor, Zimmerman would have fled with $130K of other people’s money.
Zimmerman, who says he shot Trayvon in self-defense, could stay in jail until his eventual trial or could be released today, although it was not immediately clear how long it would take Zimmerman to arrange his release.
For now, Zimmerman is ordered to remain in Seminole County.
As for Trayvon’s parents, we will continue to ride with them through this long journey.
