In spite of lying to the court, George Zimmerman walked out of Seminole County Jail this afternoon, after posting $1 million bond, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
RELATED: Trayon’s Mom Disappointed Over Zimmerman Bond
About his release, Zimmerman attorney Don West reportedly told reporters that Zimmerman was “happy” to be out of jail, “He is very happy to be out. It’s been a very sobering experience spending the last month in jail.”
Even more disconcerting than the fact that Zimmerman is once more a free man is the news that the once-volunteer neighborhood watchman raised $20,000 in donations, after Judge Kenneth Lester set his bond for $1 million Thursday morning.
According to published reports, the donations for Zimmerman flooded in once Zimmerman’s bond was established.
While some initially thought that the bond amount, which was initially a mere $150,000 at his first bond hearing, would keep Zimmerman behind bars, defense attorney Mark O’Mara was quick to point out Thursday that they had more than enough funds to post bail due to previous donations.
The Orlando Sentinel reports:
…Defense attorney Mark O’Mara wrote that he would be working to free Zimmerman over the next several hours and would dip deeply into a legal defense fund that has a balance of $211,000, more than enough to cover the 10-percent non-refundable portion charged by most bonding companies.
Indeed.
Now that Zimmerman is released, he will have to wear a satellite-monitored bracelet, is not allowed to open or maintain a bank account, and cannot leave Seminole County.
Zimmerman will soon stand trial for murdering teen Trayvon Martin in a case that almost immediately polarized the country across races. Zimmerman’s defense team is invoking Florida’s controversial Stand Your Ground Law to justify Zimmerman’s release.
The Stand Your Ground Law stipulates that one has the right to defend himself as long as he feels threatened. The Martins — along with the majority of Black America — want to see Zimmerman jailed for murdering an unarmed youth who was walking in his father’s neighborhood.
Obviously, Trayvon’s family isn’t happy about this news. Sybrina Fulton, Trayon’s mother, told Rev. Al Sharpton at a news conference on Friday that the idea of Zimmerman getting off in the murder of her son “hurts.” According to the Associated Press:
She says that knowing her son’s killer ‘may walk free sometime, one day, it really hurts.’
With Zimmerman being released for a second time since he was charged with second-degree murder — even though he and his wife blatantly lied to the courts about his lack of funds and passports — it remains to be seen whether Zimmerman will ever be brought to justice for his crimes.
For now, Zimmerman will be temporarily put up in a safe house until other accommodations have been made.
