Do you think Zimmerman will be convicted of murder?

So they say, but what it boils down to is that the defense argues that immunity applies, and the only way the state has to nullify the argument is to show probable cause that self defense was not the motive for the killing. At the end of the day the state is the party that must show up with the evidence and the better argument.

The latest such hearing in Florida was held in February of 2012, just ten days or so before Trayvon Martin was shot and killed.

Here is the background (there is a video of the incident at the link):

Two brothers were kicked out of a bar by bouncers, and one of them stabbed a bouncer to death, saying he was defending his brother.

Quote:

"Craig was reasonable in his belief that deadly force was necessary to prevent the imminent death of his younger brother Eric," Schwartzreich [the attorney] wrote in the motion. "Craig was slammed up against a wall while he watched several bouncers continuously commit aggravated assault and battery on his younger brother Eric."

Sandhaus, 27, was charged with second-degree murder in [sic] death of Milton Torres.

The hearing took place, but the judge denied immunity for the defendant. A jury trial was then ordered and scheduled.

Quote:

The law says, if you or someone is in danger of being severely injured, or killed, you can use deadly force and not be charged.

Judge Apte said it didn't work in this case, because Sandhaus went to a bar where he knew there could be trouble and was ready for it. He was armed with a knife. Torres died after being stabbed three times, according to the Orange County Medical Examiner's Office.

"The defendant had the opportunity to use less force than he did. If he had the opportunity to reach in his pocket and pull out a knife and activate it and stab, he could have easily used his hand."

Apte also noted Sandhaus tossed the knife and then lied to Orlando police about the incident. Initially, Eric Sandhaus was arrested for the stabbing, but Craig turned himself in days later.

1. Had the opportunity to use less force
2. Lied to the police about the incident

No comment about him attempting to deceive the court, huh?

Hell if I had put up a donate button on FB and the balance showing was over a hundred thousands dollars within a short time frame when I was also dealing with all the emotional **** of being charge with murder I might not had correctly informed the court at the first bond hearing but once more the court was informed shortly afterward.

George Zimmerman's Creditability at Stake as He Is Ordered Back to Jail
BY MATT GUTMAN AND SENI TIENABESO
SANFORD, Fla., June 2, 2012

Prosecutors Said the Couple Were Speaking in Code in Recorded Conversations

A day after a judge revoked George Zimmerman's bail status for hiding a stash of money from the court, law enforcement officials say they are in constant contact with him and know his whereabouts as he makes his way to the Seminole County Jail in Sanford, Fla. this weekend.

Less than six weeks ago, George Zimmerman walked out of Seminole County Courthouse a free man on bail, preparing to live the next year or two of his life in hiding as he awaited the beginning of his high profile murder trial for the death of Trayvon Martin.

But a clearly piqued Circuit Court Judge Kenneth Lester ordered him back in jail by Sunday afternoon – a reaction to the surprise evidence introduced by the prosecution showing that Zimmerman held coded telephone conversations with his wife about the many tens of thousands of dollars he'd amassed his PayPal link opened on April 9 – and then told the court he was virtually penniless.

Since his attorney last month waived his right to a speedy trial, Zimmerman could conceivably spend the duration of the trial in isolation for his own security.

"At this time revoke his bond," said Judge Kenneth Lester as court room observers gasped. "Order him to surrender himself within 48 hours."

The prosecution presented at least four jailhouse phone conversations in which George and Shelly Zimmerman were apparently discussing tiny amounts of money, but where allegedly referring to some of the $200,000 supporters had poured into his PayPal account.

At the time of the recordings, Zimmerman had just been recently arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the death of unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

During one call on April 16, Zimmerman and his wife were taped discussing their bank accounts.

George Zimmerman: In my account do I have at least $100?

Shelly Zimmerman: No

George Zimmerman: How close am I?

Shelly Zimmerman: $8. $8.60

George Zimmerman: Really? So total everything how much are we looking at?

Shelly Zimmerman: Like $155

Prosecutor Bernie De La Rionda noted Shelly Zimmerman actually meant $155,000.

He said the couple knew that their conversation was being recorded but that they were speaking in code and knowingly withheld from the court the amount of money brought in from therealgeorgezimmerman.com, the now defunct website set up by the 28-year-old to help fund his defense fund.

Zimmerman set up the site on April 9.

He released his first public comments about his role in the death of Trayvon Martin on it, and in less than 2 weeks the site raised $200,000 in anonymous donations sent via a PayPal link.

Information provided by Zimmerman's attorney a week after he was released on bail showed that the couple had $135,000 in their bank account a day before the April 20 hearing.

In court his wife said she had no idea how much money they received from the site and that they had no money, an argument Zimmerman's attorney Mark O'Mara used in court to help persuade the judge to set bail at $150,000.

The prosecution had requested bail to be set at $1 million.

"I quite frankly from the state position will flat out call it what it is, the defendant's wife lied to the court," said De La Rionda.

The prosecution contended that even though Zimmerman was in jail, he was "intimately involved" in the deposit and transfer of money from the site to various accounts.

During two of the recorded calls, Shelly Zimmerman was speaking with her husband from a Credit Union, and in one of the calls Zimmerman himself, was speaking directly to a Credit Union official.

During another recorded conversation on April 16, prosecutors say the two were discussing how to move forward with bond.

George Zimmerman: If the bond is more than 15, pay the 15. If more than 15 pay 10 percent to the bondsman.

Shelly Zimmerman: You don't want me to pay $100.

George Zimmerman: I don't know.

Shelly Zimmerman: All right just think about it.

George Zimmerman: I will.

Shelly Zimmerman: That's what it's for.

O'Mara said that the couple was not deliberately hiding money, and that it was "more of an innocent misunderstanding than a devious attempt to hide money."

At the time, Zimmerman was hesitant to use a bondsman to secure his release, due to the fear of an outsider knowing his whereabouts.

The Seminole County Sheriff's Office officials said they know the whereabouts of Zimmerman, who is mandated to wear a GPS ankle bracelet 24/7 and that they are in constant contact with him.

Although it is almost a certainty that his attorney will seek to regain his freedom albeit a much higher bond, Zimmerman now faces the prospects of facing the next year or two in protective custody.

Zimmerman's attorney had earlier waived his right to a speedy trial and earlier during the hearing before his bail was addressed had said he didn't expect the trial to begin until sometime during 2013 at the earliest.

Prosecutors said they believe Zimmerman misled his attorney about his financial situation as well as the court.

Along with conversations about their finances, prosecutors also told the Judge that Zimmerman was hiding a second passport from authorities that he acquired shortly after the Martin shooting and had stored in a safety deposit box.

But after his bond he did turn the second passport into his attorney who quickly notified the court. The judge agreed with his attorney, that the second passport, which was never used, was not being hid maliciously.

Martin family attorney Benjamin Crump who looked elated as the judge made his ruling spoke before cameras and said this was the most important development of the case so far.

"We think what just transpired in the court room was very, very important," said Crump. "It was at the crux of the matter in the whole case. Judge Lester finding that he was dishonest is very important because his credibility is the most important thing in this entire case."
http://abcnews.go.com/US/george-zimmerman-ordered-back-jail/story?id=16481046

"Does your client get to sit there like a potted plant and lead the court down the primrose path? That's the issue," Lester said. "He can't sit back and obtain the benefit of a lower bond based upon those material falsehoods."
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gdTZNw2XMND--62xUJe5NtoiH25Q?docId=039c3bd696a747df96f830899b93a20f

George Zimmerman back to jail for 'falsehoods.' Will they influence trial?
The judge in the Trayvon Martin case revoked George Zimmerman's bond and ordered him to jail after prosecutors showed he had lied about his personal finances during his bond hearing.
By Patrik Jonsson, Staff writer / June 1, 2012

After seeing public opinion gradually swing his way over the events of Feb. 26 in Sanford, Fla., George Zimmerman’s already tentative credibility took a hit as Circuit Court Judge Kenneth Lester ordered him back to jail for lying at his bond hearing in late April.

Accused of murdering unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin, Mr. Zimmerman had posted a $150,000 bond in April after declaring, through his lawyer, that he was out of work and basically indigent. His parents, too, said they had little money.

But a few days later, Mark O’Mara, Zimmerman’s attorney, told Judge Lester that Zimmerman’s financial situation wasn’t as dire, as he had raised nearly $200,000 through his “The Real George Zimmerman” website.

While Mr. O’Mara pointed to the discrepancy as an innocent mistake, prosecutor Bernie De La Rionda pounced on the misdirection on Friday, saying it – together with Zimmerman’s failure to tell the court about a second passport in his possession – was evidence that he deserves to await trial in a jail cell.

“I don’t know what other words to use [about how much money Zimmerman had] besides that it was a blatant lie,” Mr. De La Rionda said.

O’Mara on Friday argued there was “no deceit” involved since the pair did not use the money for anything.

In revoking the bond, Judge Lester said Zimmerman, who is currently in hiding, shouldn’t be able to benefit from “material falsehoods.” The judge also immediately placed Zimmerman under a “no bond” status, meaning he’ll likely spend the rest of his time awaiting trial in a Seminole County jail cell. The judge gave Zimmerman 48 hours to report to jail.

As prosecutors released nearly all their evidence in the case to the public last month, it increasingly appeared like Zimmerman’s original statement – that he shot Trayvon after fearing for his life as the boy pummeled him – had credence. Medical statements showed he had a broken nose and cuts on the back of his head, and several witnesses corroborated that Zimmerman was on the receiving end of a beating after getting out of his car to follow Trayvon.

Prosecutors say Zimmerman is culpable because he “profiled” the boy as a criminal, ignored a dispatcher’s warning about following Trayvon, and then “confronted” him. While the state’s Stand Your Ground law allows people to defend themselves with lethal force in public areas, it does not protect those who instigate a fight...

But having the judge in essence calling Zimmerman a liar before he even has a chance to take the stand in his defense may dramatically change the tenor and perception of the case by boosting the prosecution’s contention that Zimmerman is not a trustworthy person. Because Zimmerman is the only living witness to the exact events of that night, a jury will have to weigh his credibility as he defends himself against a crime that carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2012/0601/George-Zimmerman-back-to-jail-for-falsehoods.-Will-they-influence-trial

Sorry dear heart but the paypal accounts now have no affect on his fight risk...

There was zero reason to nullify his bail over such an account and it seems likely that someone had gotten to the judge over these political charges.

it would seems that the state now either wish to keep him locked up before trial so they might be able to pressure him to some kind of face saving plea deal or at worst locked up that funding in added bail so he and his lawyers are cripple in mounting a defense

Sorry Firefly all this nonsense have no effect over the evidences all pointing to a man who was attacked and being beaten by a fully growth teenager and who needed to used deadly force to stop the attack that was at best threatening to do severe harm to himself.

You can't deal with reality--the man has now been adjudged to be a liar.

I 'd like to see Alan Dershowitz, Esq. get in on the defense herein,
if he is admitted to practice in Florida.