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The judge in the George Zimmerman case denied to recuse himself Wednesday, ruling that a defense motion asking him to step down was "legally insufficient."
"The defendant's verified motion to disqualify judge is hereby denied as legally insufficient," Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester ruled.
Zimmerman, the 28-year-old Florida man charged with second-degree murder in the killing of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin, asked for a new judge in his case last month, accusing Lester of bias.
Zimmerman alleged in the filing that Lester made "gratuitous" and "disparaging remarks" about him during a July 5 bond hearing and offered "a personal opinion" in the case.
George Zimmerman's wife will not be at arraignment after not guilty plea
"In doing so, the Court has created a reasonable fear in Mr. Zimmerman that this Court is biased against him and because of this prejudice he cannot receive a fair and impartial trial or hearing by this Court," the motion said.
It is unclear whether Zimmerman will appeal the judge's decision.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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That's right judge, stand your ground!
Unfortunately this decision will give the Zimmerman defense grounds for calling for a mistrial.
Scratching your b*lls can give someone grounds for calling for a mistrial but it doesn't mean you get it.
Much to do about lawyering and rolling the dice for another judge (and making money), you folks keep the money rolling in. This lawyer has grand plans for spending it when Zimmer is in the tank.
Unfortunately for everyone Zimmerman is a crazed psycho who says anything being whispered in to his ears and will drag this out as long as he possibly can to stay out of jail and his 15 minutes...and your money.
Let me get this straight....the judge judge's himself? No conflict of interest there.
You can't judge shop. Zimmerman brought this on his own head by concealing money, his passport, and allowing his wife to perjure himself. If O'Mara can prove that Lester's comments were injudicious based on the facts before him, then he can file an appeal if the decision goes against his client.
I don't believe O'Mara actually thought Lester would recuse himself. All he is doing is laying groundwork for appeals should they be necessary...as well as showing his client that he is earning his money with a strong defense.
Oh, please, the judge did NOTHINg wrong...GZ is a liar, and the judge can see it...
Zimmerman would like to have his daddy sitting on the bench.
What personal opinion? It's not listed in the article.
We stopped doin' that a long time ago, Kapn'.....the hanging, I mean.
^^ I'll donate bedsheets for that!!
Such silliness. This will not lead to a mistrial; Zimmerman's attorney has the opportunity to appeal now. If he doesn't, that's it. He cannot bring it up later.
Big mistake. No way he'll ever receive a fair trial with that judge. He just handed the defense guaranteed grounds for appeal. Idiot/political judge who's hoping for a TV show out of it.
The NRA, and affilated gun organizations, The gun manufacturers and distributors are all supporting Zimmerman with finances and legal support. It's not about Zimmerman or Martin, It's about guns, they believe everyone should have them. Remember`PEOPLE WITH GUNS KILL PEOPLE´.
How so? Cause the judge didn't like being lied to and rightfully called Zimmerman's team out for it?
I am glad the judge denied the motion. Zimmerman wanted to get rid of the judge because he and his wife lied to the judge about his finances during his first bail hearing. Zimmerman realized that his credibility with this judge was seriously damaged by his lying and wanted to get rid of him. The judge did nothing wrong and there were no legally sufficient grounds for Zimmerman or his attorneys to ask for the judge to recuse himself. Just because you expose yourself for the lying sack of @!$%# that you are is not grounds to get rid of the judge. This was the second judge Zimmerman tried to get rid of. The first one granted the motion and stepped aside because their spouse had worked for a law firm that Zimmerman had contacted about possible representation, even though the firm never actually represented Zimmerman. What is really going on is that Zimmerman has been trying to change judges until he can find one who is sympathetic to him and thankfully the current judge has said no. It does give Zimmerman possible grounds for an appeal later, but for an appeal to be successful he and his lawyers would have to show that the judge committed some error or showed bias against Zimmerman during the actual trial.
frank-1346631
Are you an ousted NRA member who's a little jilted. I guess even they don't wont to be friends with you. Maybe you should stick with the tards and douche bags, they would welcome with open arms.
Frank,
You've made some very bold claims. Where is your evidence? I'm not talking about what you think is happening. I'm talking about clear, concise and factual evidence.
I have guns. I have several guns and I will always have guns. Those I may have killed, I did so in the service of my country. I keep guns in my house and on my person for those that have no respect for the law, who may intend harm to me, or my family. People die everyday at the hands of others. They die from poisoning, drowning, bludgeoning, stabbing, hit by car, pushed off of buildings, stragulation and a dozen other methods, but you choose to say guns are the culprit. Next you'll be advocating against baseball bats because: Remember`PEOPLE WITH BASEBALL BATS KILL PEOPLE´.
Get some actual facts and then feel free to spout your B.S.
In real life judges very seldom recuse themselves from cases unless they simply do not want to be involved, especially in controversial or high-profile cases. Almost all the calls for recusal come from prisoners appealing their conviction or sentence. They simply do not want the same judge to hear their appeal as heard their original cases.
Appeals courts generally allow the other judges on the panel to deciude whether a judge should be recused. They generally go not. When judges recuse themselves, other judges often resent it because it is seen as shifting unwanted workload to others.
That GZ repeatedly lied to this judge and was caught at it is HIS problem, not the judge's. GZ knew the penalty before he did it --- his father was a magistrate and his mother an assistant court clerk. This will difficult for GZ to use in an appeal, since there is very solid evidence of all his lies from the money in the PayPal account to the recorded jailhouse conversations, to his wife's indictment, and to his statements in the court record. This can have a profound effect on a judge's sentecing and rightly so.
@JDinSD,
I agree with virtually all your post except why the first judge took a pass on the trial. She is a mother with a family at home. She was apparently unwilling to sacrifice her family life in order to sit through a very long, very high-profile trial. In general, other judges disapprove of this because it is seen as shifting unwanted workload in their direction. That GZ had called her husband's law firm (and found out that they were not interested in the case) is not really sufficient grounds either. She just didn't want to do it.
It was also reported that the first judge recused herself because Zimmerman initially contacted her husband's law firm for representation. I am sure she wanted to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest, even though the firm did not take his case.
Great legal strategy: Lie to judge. Judge finds out. Demand new judge because current Judge knows you're a lying piece of sh()t.
On the other hand, no matter what you say or what you think, you must remember this is florida, a state so stupid it elected a thief governor; a state so stupid that it allows any moron to carry a gun anywhere - except where the morons really should carry guns: on the floor of the upcoming GOP convention.
This judge needs to step down. Then there is no argument or appeal issues. He has an attitude and personal bias if you watched the proceedings which can cause the case to be contaminated. This is a big case and it all needs to be straight up with no side drama.
The Judge is not the one on trial here. Zimmerman will no doubt be filing an appeal of any decision not in his favor. This is all a ploy to buy more time out on bail and for his little fund raising operation, which should be shut down. What a giant waste of court resources and tax payer money.
You have no Common sense. The judge needs to go as this can be a huge out if the verdict goes to the guilty side. Think things through.
I think you guys are jumping to conclusions about the judges bias. The judge showed his distaste for Zimmermans attempts to fool the system. That is not bias. The Jury has ultimate control over Zimmerman's fate, not the judge.
So because he doesn't appreciate being lied to, that makes him biased??
@agruesforsport.....as the police, police themselves. Welcome to our judical system.
"HEY" ole Georgie boy knew he was lying to the judge when asked about his finances. Get over it, you lie you go down. His own lawyer knew he had money ang never spoke up.
I could care less which Judge handles the trial. Just ALL of you don't bitch and moan if there is a mistrial because of the judge angle is used. I know you vine people will do it anyway. And the FL taxpayers will have to pay for a whole new trial which will be a big waste.........
Oh please, every judge says things when the defendant does stupid stuff. Zimmerman lied in court and hid his finances in order to get a free lawyer. It's not a bias thing at all, just what any judge would say when someone has lied in their court. Zimmerman needs to grow up and quit being a baby about all this. Boo hoo, he's just trying anything he can to get out from under.
Wait... a defendent admits to lying in court, judge looks at all the evidence showing intent to deceive, finds defendent guilty, and hands down the appropriate punishment as proscribed by law. Isn't that a perfect description of the judge's JOB?
So, Judge Lester is biased because he did his job?
Frank, you wrote-----
I think the NRA is starting to back away from GZ. George Zimmerman is not a good "poster boy" for the NRA!
.Click link below----
.
JOAN BAEZ ~ If I Knew ~ - YouTube ...... ("If I knew where the wild bird flew, I would not tell the hunter...")
.
.
He lied to the judge about money he had for bail. He got caught and is now trying to remove the judge? Don't think that is the way the process works. It would never stand up under appeal. The judge has done nothing wrong.....Zimmerman is the one on trial here.
Does an Officer charged with any wrongdoing investigate the matter himself? No. Other Officers do. This should have been judged by another Judge, not the Judge in question.
The Judge needs to go. He clearly and unabashedly gave his personal opinions. I remember reading what the Judge said the day he said it and I simply could not beleive it, BUT I am not an Attorney. I simply thought that a Judge could not go that far well before a trial. Also, of a Judge is biased, it my mind it can effect the jury. So again, I beleive the Judge needs to step down.
Trayvon Martin never got a fair trial, why should Zimmerman.
whether the judge steps down or not, he still lied to the court and that lie can not be taken back and it will be used against his credibility. you supporters need to quit pampering Zimmerman and let him take responsibilty for what he does. it was his opinion and erroneous assumption that started all this mess. but according to you supporters, his family and his greatly paid attorney he zimmerman isn't biased. it was his opinion to make a retarded statement like "it was god's plan". if the judge did recuse himself, I hope they get a visiting judge that would see right through this zimmerman bs just like that lead detective did that first night and wanted to charge him then and there. the prosecutor needs to be interviewing the cousin about his perveted years of molesting her and consider bringing charges since her family was too shame to smear the family reputation and handle that mess. when a person is so used to getting away with crime or getting off with a slap on the wrist they usuall re offend and the ultimate consequence is someone's death including their own. sanford was so trifling they were not going to do an inquest, they just thought they would sweep this under the rug and call it a day.
Shirley - Maybe you need to keep up with current events. George told his lawyer about the money and he said it should not matter as it wasn't enough AND HE AND HIS WIFE WERE NOT WORKING. Even the Judge had no idea so everyone wanting to gut him on the "he lied about the money" part is more or less full of it now.
Guess what the lawyer was RIGHT. GZ is out of money now so go stick that in a pipe and smoke it. Hope you don't get stuck in this situation.
Oh yeah and the girl who accused him must be a great position to be in. You don't have ANY PROOF AT ALL and can just make the accusations but don't until WEEKS later. You even go so far as to say he did ALL of this in FRONT of family members and yet no one saw anything? You even go to his HOUSE ALONE and expect everyone to believe this even when you are SO FRIGHTENED OF HIM? Yeah that makes perfect sense and no possible chance of an agenda there...
Pampering??? What so the judge who made what I see and OBVIOUS nasty statements to someone who is on trial for his life gets to decide he doesn't have to step down? What kind of BS is that? How about another judge has to review. For anyone to think his statements weren't biased and not professional at all must be reading / watching something else then I am. I knew the judge was going to wait until pretty much the last minute and then say "Naww I'm not"... S
My point is SO WHAT IF HE DOES? If the case is so rock solid against him then who cares who the judge is. Something is going on that stinks here.....
So you don't want justice you just want a crucifixion.
This case is finished before it even gets started.
I don't know whether the judge should or shouldn't step aside--this seems an issue made for gray areas. What I'm pretty sure of is that if he stays on the case every decision, no matter how minor, he makes at trial will be scrutinized with a microscopic for evidence or suggestion of bias, with even the most trifling rulings, handling of objections, etc lighting up the comments boards for examination and grueling name-calling argument.
To some degree that would be inevitable in any case, but after a formal challenge by the defense it's going to be stratospherically multiplied.
If the Judge did give "a personal opinion" in the case. Then yes, the Judge needs to step down.
Code of Conduct of US Judges.
(C) Disqualification.
All the judge did, was explain the reason for a high bail...it's not his fault GZ is a lying scumbag.
What personal opinion did the judges give? Why not state it in the article?
Zimmerman's attorneys filed the motion to have Lester removed earlier this month. The motion stems from Lester's decision to revoke Zimmerman's $150,000 bond after it was revealed that he had more money from donations than originally disclosed.
Lester later granted Zimmerman a $1 million bond, and in that ruling made several comments about Zimmerman's character, and even hinting at future contempt proceedings.
George Zimmerman's attorneys say those comments, plus the judge's decision not to weigh evidence of Zimmerman's innocence when determining how to set bond, show Lester is not capable of impartiality in the case.
http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2012/8/1/case_against_zimmerm.html
The problem that will keep the appeal from being successful is that none of the judge's remarks are in dispute. Period.
This is all irrelevant.
This case will be decided by the jury period. If there is a few non African Americans on the juror: they will find Zimmerman not guilty and it will be a hung jury. "jury nullification". thank you OJ!
Just throw this man in prison already! I am so tired of hearing this murderer whine.
Idiot.
Just throw this man in prison already! I am so tired of hearing this murderer whine.
I know. If he's so keen on killing then he can level up in prison.
I see the lynch mob is out in force already today. No need for a trial or evidence. The media has already told us all we need to know and they always tell the full, unbiased truth, right?
HE's getting a trial...
More than afforded to Trayvon!
Trayvon is exactly where he belongs, and where he would have eventually ended up.
troll alert folks! Do not feed the troll!
Social_Worker
Your handle is an oxymoron. No wonder your life sucks.
johnnyspot, you are suspended for a day for violating rule # 1 of the Code of Honor.
Sallyyyyyy!!!!
Could be a big mistake ... Just a setup for a mistrial...
No matter what happens, if Zimmerman doesn't like the outcome he will appeal anyway.
I expect the next defense motion will be to dismiss all charges on the basis that Zimmerman can't get a fair trial anywhere in the US.
The only way that a such a motion would even come close to being filed is if Zimmerman demanded his lawyer to do it. If that were the case, Zimmerman's lawyer would probably resign before filing such a laughable motion. It would ruin his reputation.
Well, then, if that is true, the only fair way to try Zimmerman would be a trial by water. They strap him into a chair, submerge the chair underwater for about 5 minutes and then pull it up. If he's alive, he is deemed not guilty, but if Zimmerman is no longer breathing, then he is pronounced guilty and sentence has already been carried out.
He deserves the same fairness he afforded Trayvon.
analystgirl - Yeah ok next time someone is beating the crap out of you talk about "fairness". Geesh...
dan123123123,
First, GZ provoked the entire altercation,
Second, he was barely touched, judging by the teen, tiny boo boos he encountered!
I've seen more blood from a trike spill....
GZ should have heeded the police dispatchers words....
We don't need you to do that!
All nothing more than your opinion. Prove any of it. Even the last bit, there is absolutely no proof whatsoever that Zimmerman did not stop pursuit at that point even if it was an order. He immediately responds "OK". Do you have any proof (not speculation) that he continued following as opposed to testimony that has Trayvon coming back to confront Zimmerman?
Guess what the jury is going to consider. Proof, facts and evidence. Not speculation, opinion or hearsay, and so far, the prosecution has not given anything contrary to the former that wasn't the latter.
GZ TOLD the investigators, he did! He said he "went in the same direction"....
What does THAT mean? To a normal person, it shows he continued to follow....
The jury will have "normal people" in it....not zimmie fans.
Wow. Months have passed. Hundreds of pages on the Vine here. That "OK" response has been mentioned hundreds of times and all of a sudden you have information that nobody else has ever mentioned or brought up before. I don't suppose you care to share where you got that little "quote" or would the full context of the reply not work for you?
Are YOU serious?
Here, listen with your own ears....
http://gzlegalcase.com/documents/statements/audio_interview_0229_3.mp3
arguesforsport
And people constantly mention the "we don't need you to do that" comment, but never the fact that he also said "let us know if he does anything else" and then repeated later during the same phone call "let us know if this guy does anything else", which pretty much means "keep an eye on him".
This is a witch hunt, the man was a neighborhood watcher, and looking out for his neighbors, suspected a guy of "being up to no good", kept an eye on him for a while, and called 911, he knew very well the cops were coming since he called them himself. He is the only one in this "trio" (GZ, TM, Dee Dee) who called 911. Trayvon Martin on the other hand didn't know the cops were coming. And I will repeat myself again, why was TM still around a few seconds after GZ got done with his phone call if he was so scared, and even supposedly "walking fast" to get home? If you have listened to the phone call you know that GZ wasn't running after TM (you'd have to be in great shape to run after someone for over a minute and not even breath hard), and TM had plenty of time to get away but chose not to.
Jo-An, they really should bring their rent-a-writers up to speed before they sit them down at the computer to post.
I listened. Nice try. George is right. Walking the same direction after Trayvon disappeared is not following. If he lost Trayvon and didn't know where Trayvon was, how could he be following? So I was right, your quote was purposely misleading and only partial. That is why nobody else has used it.
Shall we call it searching for Trayvon then?
This is from the police investigators interview with GZ-----
-Here is the audio of the investigators questioning Zimmerman. Click on this link-----
3 Detectives interrogate George Zimmerman ... - YouTube
.
Below is part of the transcript from this audio------
.
.
You can call it whatever you like, but even if you want to believe he was actively following/searching for Trayvon, neither is a crime.
Remember when his friend Frank Taaffe said this about George? -------
George Zimmerman should never have been a watch captain. He was an overzealous, wanna be cop with a gun. In 2005 George did not have his quick temper under control. Perhaps, he had it under control during the ensuing years up to the night of February 26, 2012.
However, he lost control of his temper the night he killed Trayvon. In his 911 call, you can hear his anger and temper beginning to boil---"These a$$h@les, they always get away" and "fu@king goon". Unfortunately, George was in possession of a gun as his temper began to flare up.
He had NOT followed the watch guidelines --He did MORE than simply "watch" and "report" . He followed Trayvon with aGUN and a BOILING TEMPER.
Very telling as to his state of mind, and important to support a 2nd degree charge. And he calls Taffe a "friend"?
Angry or not, none of that will matter if the prosecution cannot prove that Zimmerman started the altercation. If they cannot disprove Zimmerman's version of events and the defense can solidify the testimony that Martin attacked Zimmerman, it's over. So far, no proof has been offered that anything happened any differently than Zimmerman testified.
When the George met up with Trayvon, Witness 8 (Trayvon's girlfriend Deedee) quotes Martin as saying, "What are you following me for?". Then she heard another voice say, "What are you doing around here?"
Doesn't sound as if Trayvon provoked the altercation.
zimmie lovers seem to think the prosecution needs to prove "who threw the first punch"...not so....
GZ "started" the entire THING, by following an innocent person, and backing him into a corner...If you actually listened to all of the evidence, GZ's version(s) of events, you can plainly see...he is NOT telling the truth.
The jury will see that, and he's going to prison.
1. That's the version given by dee dee, who was coached by crump
2. Even if we go with her version, neither questions provoked the altercation. whatever followed physically provoked the altercation
Jo-An-4354969
First of all I don't like the term "Zimmie lovers", for me its not only about George Zimmerman, its about what I think is a witch hunt, which started with the accusations of racism, the edition of sound files, and the old pictures. And why don't we sue all cops and neighborhood watchers, and anyone else for that matter, who suspected someone? they're all bad right?
Whether everything he said is true or not, I don't know anymore then you. But TM did have plenty of time to get away while GZ was on the phone (you can plainly hear that GZ is not running after anyone, and he was on the phone for over a minute), but chose not to. You can plainly see that he, TM, is the one who started the confrontation. He also could have called 911, which would have set things straight, but he chose not to. Dee Dee the girlfriend, also could have called 911, but chose not to.
But yeah stick to your version of the bid bad guy attacking the poor little 13 year old child.
If you look at the facts, without all the BS about the innocent 13 year old child, and the old mugshots of a 21 year old guy, you can see plainly that GZ was simply a neighborhood watcher who suspected a guy, kept an eye on him for a while, called 911, and was on his way back to his truck while waiting for the cops.
-Anna-,
Explain to me why we don't HEAR GZ get back into his car during his call with the police....We CLEARLY hear the door chimes when he jumps out to follow Trayvon....yet we never hear them again....
I will tell you why. Because GZ lied during his reenactment, in order to "explain" how he and Trayvon met up behind the houses, that is why. GZ drives closer to the T, parks, gets out and follows the direction Trayvon went and encountered him at the T.
Get OVER the BS about pictures, it's irrelevant! It has NO bearing on my opinion!
Jo-An
You yell a lot ...
Hmmm maybe because he didn't get back into his car? And he didn't say that he did either, either during the phone call or during the reenactment. Also he did mention himself that he was following TM, but stopped after he was told "we don't need you to do that". As I said previously tho he was also told "let us know if he does anything else" (twice).
However I was mistaken, the phone call doesn't last 1 minute, it lasts over 4 minutes. How could TM be still around only a few seconds after this phone call while he had over 3 minutes to get away? (I took one minute off since he was around and looking at GZ at some point). And as I mentioned, GZ is obviously not running. Ask yourself also why TM was walking around GZ's truck at some point, doesn't it seem a little strange to you? Eventho GZ suspected him for other reasons also, if someone did that I would probably suspect him/her to be "up to no good" too, especially since in the past someone broke my car window and stole my radio.
No not irrelevant at all, just as the edited audio files are not irrelevant either, it was used to manipulate the public opinion, and to condemn George Zimmerman before people even knew details about this case.
Seriously why so focused on the Zimmerman and Martin case? do some research about the thousands of other cases of self-defense (hundreds at least since this happened) too. Daniel Adkins would be a good start.
Maybe YOU should actually listen to GZ's own words, and watch his reenactment...
The last thing I'm going to do is argue with someone that pretends she's not a racist, when she is....
We established your racism two months ago, when every comment you made "blamed" all blacks on all evils...
Jo-An
What the heck are you talking about? When did I ever blame blacks of all evils?? we are all the same and human, and race and/or color doesn't make any difference to me. You are confusing me with someone else. I am not a racist, never have been a racist, and I have been raised by parents who had the utmost respect and admiration for Martin Luther King.
And I did listen to GZ's own words, and watched the reenactment, he clearly mentions (and shows) he walked behind the houses after the phone call.
You are incredible, my conclusions are different then yours, therefore I must be a racist. And thank you for the insults. P.S. you do know George Zimmerman has black roots right?
And you are still yelling.
The judge is not stupid and has considered the potential future scrutiny his refusal to step down will evoke and the analyzed the defense request as lacking substance. It's his call, but I found the defense move a tactical ploy to begin with.
Looks more to me like they are working on the possibility of being granted a new trial after conviction based on ineffective counsel. Just sayin'.
George did not realized that Judge Lester is used to dealing with defendants like George.
Evidently, his lawyer made a little error in assessing the situation, as well, lol.
What did the judge say about him?
Everyone in the world who keeps up with this case knew about Zimmerman's income from the donations even before the first bond hearing. You can tell that this judge does not even read about this case in the news to create that bias. At the first bond hearing, the judge acted on what was presented to him that day and he had no clue that Zimmerman had income coming from donations. Then after the hearing, the prosecution put this into the attention of the judge later. The judge was surprised that Zimmerman misled the court and ruled on what was presented to him in court based on the law. But Zimmerman took what the judge said PERSONALLY like a little boy who probably never received proper punishment/discipline/reprimand for his wrong-doings in the past. It is very hard to work with a very ENTITLED little boy defendant because everything has to be NEGOTIATED with Zimmerman. EVERYTHING. This defendant thinks a person is SUSPICIOUS and UP TO NO GOOD if that person does not agree with his outlook. Then he tries to eradicate the suspicious and up to no good person. It is a pattern that shows up again and again - with Trayvon, the first two lawyers he hired and ignored, then now this judge. Who's next on the suspicious and up to no good list for Zimmerman? O'Mara?
Everyone in the world who keeps up with this case knew about Zimmerman's income from the donations even before the first bond hearing. You can tell that this judge does not even read about this case in the news to create that bias. At the first bond hearing, the judge acted on what was presented to him that day and he had no clue that Zimmerman had income coming from donations.
You're missing the point, Jit1. One is never to assume anything in court and a defendant is supposed to be asked everything and is supposed to be afforded the opportunity to say, in his or her own words, the truth. This is apparently something George Zimmerman doesn't know how to do. A judge isn't supposed to get his information from the newspaper. A defendant is supposed to be asked a question and supply a truthful answer. That's how court works.
Kat - Ok then what exactly WAS GEORGE ASKED since your so smart on this? Oh yeah that was NOTHING. He also apparently told his attorney about the money and it SHOULD NOT HAVE MATTER. This entire thing is becoming a complete joke..
He was asked about his financial status, Dan. And he lied to the court. That's why his bail was revoked and he was thrown in the slammer. Try to keep up.
dan123123123,
Are you kidding? GZ had to fill out forms saying he was indigent...HE LIED!
AND if his lawyer knew, he'd be in trouble TOO...
His wife perjured herself by saying they had no income. Come on Dan, the wife had to bail herself out on perjury charges for lying to the court about what her and her husband had..
Actually Kat, george was not asked a single question about his financial status during the first bail hearing - when he got on the stand he apologized to the martins and the prosecution asked him a few questions about the consistency of his story given to the police. that's it, nothing financial
bob c - He lied to the court about his financial status on documents. You don't only have to be truthful on the witness stand.
Kat,
He isn't charged with perjury...there aren't papers. The judge didn't like that George didn't speak up about his wife misleading the court. Zimmermans wife told the court the the brother in law would know the exact balance, but they wouldn't call him. Lester had every single detail about the account within 7 days of the hearing.
Does anyone, truthfully, know the specifics of why Mrs. Z was arrested? Calico mentioned she was arrested for perjury, but I was wondering the specific event, such as the form(s) that she fraudulently filled out. Although one needs to be truthful, if there are honest inaccuracies, they usually let things slide, such as honest mistakes. I would like to know what it was that caused them to arrest her, specifically.
The judge asks Mrs. Z how much money they had collected from their foolish supporters, in their bank account.....she played dumb, said she didn't know...yet she and GZ were discussing the very specifics on recorded phone calls from jail! Stupid criminals!
George Zimmerman had two felony counts of assualting a police officer, down graded to misdemeanors, because they were his first offense. Then he had a charge of domestic dispute after beating his then girlfriend senseless, downgraded after anger management classes. Trayvon Martin was suspended from school for being near a book bag with traces of pot and not telling the Principal who it belonged to.
Which person is most likely to fly off the handle and attack someone?
Trayvon was breaking into lockers and stealing jewelry etc.
Trayvon sprayed graffiti all over the school.
Trayvon sold drugs right off of his Facebook page.
Trayvon was suspended for THE THIRD TIME (see above, for the other two times) for having a bag with drug paraphernalia and traces of pot.
Trayvon was a punk and a juvenile delinquent and his parents did not care a thing about him, until his death and they could profit by it.
BS...
Have you actually heard ONE, JUST ONE, person that KNEW Trayvon, say anything bad about him???
NO, YOU HAVEN'T....
All you have is rwnj's blowing smoke...
Social_Worker
Trayvon was not interested in you and gave you the cold shoulders. hmmmmm......did you put a contract out for Trayvon?
Geoffrey-1826613
Zimmerman has no record. That means that he does not have a conviction for any of the alleged offenses you speak of. Charging someone is much different than proving they actually committed the crime. This is why our judicial system says, "Innocent until proven guilty." By the way, guilt must be shown in a court of law, not the tribunal you all have going on in here.
Social Worker, please change your SN to "Social Misfit". You insult the profession of social work.
Funkster...you are incorrect. George does have a record.
I'm pretty certain that only .00004% of the potential jury pool is commenting here, so none of those opinions will mean squat during the trial. During jury selection each potential juror will be asked of they heard of this case or have formed an opinion. This means STFU and stop crying about how Zimmerman isn't going to get a just trial. This comment section isn't going to be consulted during the trial, so people can say whatever they want concerning the overwhelming guilt of this murderer. And I hope he fries.
OMG! His friends, family and the prosecution team haven't said anything negative about Trayvon? How shocking!
But people that know Zimmerman and have only said kind words about him are all lying, right?
That's called sarcasm for those that need it explained.
I don't think you understand the point, although I don't know whether you are misunderstanding willfully or not.
Good things have been said about both Martin and Zimmerman.
Trayvon Martin doesn't have a lot of negative things said about him.
Zimmerman has been accused of being a child molester by someone who was a child at the time.
Do you understand the difference?
That's funny,
Plenty of people have PLENTY of negative stuff to say about GZ...
His COUSIN, more than one it sounds like.
His coworker.
His ex girlfriend.
Another coworker.
Who knows what other sweet stuff will come out by trial.
Yet NO ONE has said anything bad about Trayvon...don't you find THAT curious? If he's some drug dealing, aggressive thug, surely someone (besides Michelle Malkin, and FAUX) would speak up....
Yeah Jo-An and "snitches get stitches" is a term used for a reason. Yeah no 17 year old friends have come out to say anything. Hmm someone had videos and got shut down IIRC. Keep basing your opinion on nothing to do with the case at hand. Your good at it.
Dan, you really are gullible, aren't you?
Oh, but there have been many people reporting many tidbits about Trayvon, but those are all right away shoveled aside as racist or irrelevant and have nothing to do with the case, or the web account is erased and all photos removed except for the ones the prosecution has carefully chosen and handed to the press. So if Trayvon's past is irrelevant and has no bearing on this case, how is anything that Zimmerman may or may not have done relevant?
Anyone can say anything about anyone. Funny how any and all accusations against Zimmerman are automatically counted as convictions, and anything that Trayvon was accused of or even disciplined for are to be disregarded.
NO...the only ones "reporting tidbits" are the like of Michelle Malkin, no real people. Just internet lies.
With zimmermurderer, we have real people that used their real names, and went to the real police.
Michelle Malkin posted a "whoops" that photo wasn't Trayvon APOLOGY on HER Twitchy website....if you'd like to check it out.
Any real convictions? No, just accusations and dropped charges. But poor, little #nolimitnigga, we aren't supposed to take any school suspensions, burglary tools or unknown women's jewelry into consideration. Only accusations against Zimmerman are valid, evidence and punishment of poor, little Trayvon are of no consequence.
I have no clue who Michelle Malkin is, let alone care, but I imagine she's just as "real" as Al and Jesse are.
You just don't get it because you don't want to. Zimmerman has been accused, not convicted of anything, yet you want to base your guilty verdict in this case based on what anyone has to say bad about him at any time in the past and disregard all the good as "well...they're his friends and family, what else are they to say". Yet Trayvon's friends and family do the same and it's gospel.
Wrong AGAIN...
GZ had his charges lowered to a misdemeanor, (actual charges) and then expunged...
And he DID have a restraining order against him.
Trayvon had NO Juvenile record at all....
You compare school suspension to Assault and Battery on a LEO, and Domestic Violence restraining order???
NO, YOU don't get it.....
If Trayvon was some "aggressive thug", we would have heard about it....
Which means he has no record.
And he had one against his ex as well. Restraining order is proof of two people not getting along, nothing more and it is not a crime.
Because every "aggressive thug" gets caught right away and they all spend time in Juvie for their crimes. Maybe not aggressive until the night in question. But how do you explain burglary tools and women's jewelry that nobody could explain how he got? I'm sure the empty baggie was just being held for a friend or it was a prank of some kind too, right?
C'mon. That assault and battery charge was based on a technicality and you know it. Going to have to try a lot harder to make Zimmerman appear as the bloodthirsty maniac you're trying so hard to paint him as.
But all that aside, none of it is proof in this case. All those things are being brought up because there is no proof that anything happened differently than what Zimmerman testified.
Then I guess that O'Mara doesn't need to prepare for the trial.
George Zimmerman Reenacts Shooting of Treyvon Martin for Police at Crime Scene (Part 2)
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Go to 5:58/ of 8:03 on the video-----where Zimmerman says
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Zimmerman shot Trayvon in the heart. Trayvon's body should have been at the location Zimmerman pointed out as being where he shot Trayvon because Trayvon was pounding his head (not 30 feet away)
Therefore, I do not think Zimmerman's story is anywhere near credible-------
And you know that how? Because you watch CSI daily? Do you know what happens when you cut off a chickens head? Getting shot in the heart does not automatically mean you drop dead on the spot.
Trayvon died where he was shot. George said-----
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George Zimmerman Reenacts Shooting of Treyvon Martin for Police at Crime Scene (Part 2)
Zimmerman shot Trayvon in the heart. Trayvon's body should have been at the location Zimmerman pointed out as being where he shot Trayvon because Trayvon was pounding his head (not 30 feet away)
Therefore, I do not think Zimmerman's story is anywhere near credible-------
Here's my idea of George's thought process after he left the police station the night he killed Trayvon.
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One poster on the vine (Sally 411) wrote this-----
If Trayvon Martin was an "aggressive thug" he might not have been caught, but he would have had a reputation that would have been revealed by now
a) Trayvon Martin did not have an juvenile arrest record of any kind.
b) The so-called "burglary tools" was a screwdriver, not illegal to have.
c) The women's jewelry was investigated by the police and his school's administration. Trayvon Martin was not charged with anything by the police and no punishment was issued to him in conjunction with the jewelry. You are readily willing to dismiss Zimmerman's actions with others (police, ex) but want to use a double standard against Trayvon Martin.
And even if Zimmerman doesn't have convictions he still does have an arrest record. I was arrested on felony hit and run. I didn't even see the accident, I was still at work. Even though the charges (11) were dismissed (after over a year of going to court) I still have the arrest on record.
As far as People saying good things about Trayvon Martin. You have his classmates, teachers, coaches, the people from the local the Pop Warner organization (he played, then after he was too old worked a food stand), the neighbor next door whose child Trayvon Martin taught how to play football. need I go on?
You Zimmerman supporters so want to make over Trayvon Martin to be Tookie Williams is it pitiful. He was a decent kid, an "a" and "b" student and was only three weeks into being seventeen, that's why all his pictures look like a youngster, he still was.
Defense lawyers routinely file all kinds of motions they know are going to be turned down. The remarks that Zimmerman objected to took place during the bail hearing after the existence of Zimmerman's PayPal account was revealed. The fact that Zimmerman lied about his finances is going to make it very difficult to argue bias on the part of the judge. Appeals court judges don't like to be lied to either.
To O'Money "You can't handle the truth!" Judge Lester simply stated the reason why he revoked Zimmie's bail and set the amount at 1M. Had he just said bail revoked then they would be begging for a reason. You can't always get what you want so they best stop bitching and start planning his defense.
Exactly. The very fact that Judge Lester actually granted Zimmerman a second bail shows that he isn't biased.
DOCJT - apparently you don't know how the law works. He pretty much had to grant him bail. Setting it a million was nothing but punishment and a complete joke to me.
Dani...no he did not. George had already violated the conditions of one bail. The judge could very well have refused a second amount, or set it even higher than 1 mil based on that fact alone.
Looks like they're setting up for declaring either a mis-trial, or an appeal post-trial.
A mistrial happens when a jury cannot come to a decision.
An appeal is not a second trial of facts. It is a panel to decide constitutional issues associated with the trial. If zimmerman cannot prove that he had a constitutional violation in his trial he will not win any appeal. It won't be about anything that he judge said. As long as the judge did not violate any of his constitutional rights his appeal will amount to nothing.
What's the matter Mr. Z, God's plan no longer working for you?
It still works out. The defense might need to use it later in appeal.
If you don't file the motion when you should have then it becomes more difficult to claim in appeal. Furthermore, the judge claims it's "insufficient". The defense will now review the motion to see where it came up short.
The upside is that Judge Lester may now become more circumspect; show less bias. He has an upcoming SYG hearing. I don't know if it's his first but if it is it might later be helpful to the Zimmerman defense.
It's good lawyering on the defense's part.
Oh,yeah. Pissing off the judge by lying to the court and then claiming bias when he punishes you accordingly is always a good defense strategy, lol.
Judge Lester did not show bias. He should good cause under legal reasoning for revocation of bond, and for setting the amount at 1 million. He did the job he is supposed to be doing.
To hear Zimmerman lovers tell it, the judge should give him a low bail based on the popularity of MSNBC racist. Exactly what is the judge suppose to say to defend his decision of a high bail? I'm setting a high bail but I won't tell you why I'm doing it?
BP / DOC - Umm you set the bail high and you say its due to the money and other items. You don't use degrading terms and sound like a 5th grader. What is so hard to understand about this....
What? Telling the truth about George's actions is now degrading? Maybe George should have thought about how degrading it would be when he was shown to be a liar. If George has been degraded, it is simply because he is embarrassed that he got caught lying and trying to manipulate money in a scheme that most 4th graders could have detected.
No it won't "work out". The judge just gave his reasons to raise his bail. The judge very well could have revolked Zimmerman's bail period. The court found out tha the hadn't given up one of his passports, had stashed a large amount of money, and was lying to the court. The court could have easily ruled that he was a flight risk as his mother is from South America and he has relatives there
Any issue not brought up in court can not be brought up in appeals.
The judge has been extremely lienient considering that Zimmerman had a second passport not reported an a considerable amount of stashed cash. He should rightfully be considered a flight risk and denied bail.
*** BREAKING NEWS ALERT ***
'George Zimmerman's nephew was just shot and killed by a stray bullet...It was God's Plan'
What you got to worry about Mr. Z, Isn't God's plan working for you anymore?
This guy and his crooked attorneys are not to be believed! He's headed to prison for murder and he knows it; his crooked attorneys will do anything to help killer walk.
In a fair trial, Zimmerman will be found not guilty.
I imagine that he will be found not guilty, or the charges completely dropped, about a week before the Nov. election.
This way, all the welfare and whiners will rush to the polls and vote for Obama (after they finish looting, of course).
Zimmerman is going away...
for a VERY LONG TIME
can we get a ban on this guy?
Rightfully reported. I mean seriously....
Social_Worker,
LOL...and YOU are NO social worker...that is for certain!
More likely a Re-Reg that's been banned here before.
sw, is mad cause affirmative action took his welfare checks away from her. She's been poping out muts and trayvon didn't wont to be the next baby's daddy.
Social_Worker banned, re-reg of multiple accounter summer-4089363.
I KNEW it!
She was SuzySunshine too....
O'Mara would just ask the next judge to step down too, and the next judge, and the next judge..... He'll make a motion for a mistrial no matter what.
This is the strategy of a guilty defendant. The jury will decide guilt in this case, not the judge.
Exactly...
Just curious...
Are you a "stay at home mom" or a "single mother?" Do you work or have you ever worked?
Are you on full welfare; how many kids do you have; are you married; are your babies half-black; how many different fathers; do you get along with your biological father?
I don't mean to offend you; I'm just trying to figure out your stance?
Thank you.
They need to appoint a NRA approved judge to judge Zimmerman
Social_Worker
What could I have said that makes you presume such a thing?
Obviously you are just a re-reg troll, soon to be tossed off again....
And yet, you don't answer any of the questions.
You are a stay at home, welfare-4-life mother, who pops out black babies so that you can live for free and have time to play on the internet.
You support black causes, because you have black babies and because you date black men--the only ones that will date you.
You've never worked in your life, or maybe a few years at the most.
You take advantage of all of the Gov. programs (free housing, food stamps, food banks, false IRS returns, etc.) and run scams.
I see females like you every day of the week.
Welfare 4 life scam artists.
"I see females like you every day of the week."
Wow, didn't know you go to the hand out lines every day of the week. That's a bit much isn't it.
Wrong, married 30 years, one white husband, 4 white children, owned my own business for the last 20 years...
But I bet, I got you right...
RE-REG, been banned on here many, many times....will be again before the day is over.
well at the very least there is already grounds for a motion for dismissal in the event he get's convicted...At the very least he has grounds for an appeal of any conviction. The Judge should have forwarded the motion to another Judge to allow an independent ruling on the motion. If the other Judge ruled against the motion than the Judge in question doesn't open the door for a future appeal....Now they have grounds for an appeal which will extend the legal process even further
Wrong. They can appeal this ruling now. If they do not, they cannot later claim it as grounds for an appeal after subsequent decisions by the court or jury.
Wait, wait! I didn't mean to get caught lying, and I thought everyone would believe me when I cried "self defense"! I want a do-over!
This is the practice of law.
The first judge had a conflict of interest she brought to both parties' attention and didn't want to recuse herself sua ponte.
Zimmerman is being railroaded, and anyone who can't see it, is either unintelligent and uneducated, or is criminal .... Trayvon was both.
Pretty damn narcissistic of you to believe that we all should have the same perception that you do. This is the trait of a feeble mind. I hope your not really a social worker.
If you're a social worker, I can only imagine the number of lifes you have frigged up.
Zimmerman was a violent crminal but his dad was able to to keep him out of jail
I bet Social Worker is a 40-50 something ,single,white unemployed male that is socially inept and plays alot of x-box
This decision is of little-to-no consequence. It will not change the outcome.
Wait for something important in the case.
Most people do piss, whine and moan when you tell them the truth and hold them accountable for their actions. Lie in a court of law, chances are, you will be berated by the judge. Zimmy should be thankful he’s not been hit with a perjury charge as of yet.
He won't be hit with a perjury charge. He never lied under oath.
What's hanging over his head is a contempt charge.
Carmen....it appears the court felt otherwise, hence his re-arrest and higher bond. And per Zimmerman's own attorney during his TV interview, a perjury charge is still possible, that's why he wouldn't allow Zimmerman to comment on it.
Fricsaid
Try reading the judge's "bond". At no time did George Zimmerman ever testify under oath regarding his finances. Perjury is lying under oath.
George Zimmerman was not forthcoming about his finances during a "bond" hearing. That would be "contempt".
And as long as the Judge is holding a "contempt" charge over George Zimmerman's head, he won't be obligated to incriminate himself by talking about the bond.
Carmen...do you think a person just walks into court and says Your Honor I want bail ? A person seeking bail fills out a legal form called (An Application for Bail) On that form the defendant answers truthfully to court his financil situation. Under the penalty of perjury the information is the truth...you know the little line on your income tax form ..just about the same thing.
Incorrect. Zimmerman signed a sworn statement claiming he was indigent; eg had no money or assets. He did. He lied under oath. He could very well be looking at both contempt and perjury charges.
Zimmerman's wife is the one who might yet face a perjury charge. Zimmerman himself simply failed to correct what he knew was a lie, as well as any other mistatements he made in his declaration of assets. His lie of omission is why his bail was revoked, as well as the fact that he was an obvious flight risk with so much money, family in Peru, and a 2nd passport which he neglected to tell the court about.
The phone recordings prove Zimmerman instructed his wife how to hide the funds in his account. His wife will be convicted of perjury because she knew what was in the account and received instructions in how to transfer the money out of the bank account. Her guilt leads directly to Zimmerman himself. She gets convicted of her crime and Zimmerman gets yet another nail in his coffin.
He and his wife both lied. Fact.
stepdown? Heck no... I want to be the next Judge Ito.!
Put Joe Arpaio on the U.S. Supreme Court.