Trayvon accused 'must return to jail'

The man who shot US teenager Trayvon Martin must return to jail, a judge has ordered.

In a strongly-worded ruling, a judge said George Zimmerman and his wife lied to the Florida court about their finances to obtain bond in a case that hinges on jurors believing his account of what happened the night the youth was killed.

Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder for the February shooting. The neighbourhood watch volunteer said he shot Trayvon in self-defence because the unarmed 17-year-old was beating him up in a gated community outside Orlando, Florida.

Zimmerman was arrested 44 days after the killing, and during a bond hearing in April, his wife, Shellie, testified that the couple had limited funds available. The hearing was also was notable because Zimmerman took the stand and apologised to Martin’s parents.

Prosecutors pointed out in their motion that Zimmerman had 135,000 (€109,179) available then.

It had been raised from donations through a website he set up and they suggested more has been collected since and deposited in a bank account.

Shellie Zimmerman was asked about the website at the hearing, but she said she did not know how much money had been raised. Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester set bail at $150,000 (€121,310). The 28-year-old was freed a few days later after posting $15,000 (€12,131) in cash – which is typical – and has since been in hiding.

Prosecutor Bernie De la Rionda said: “This court was led to believe they didn’t have a single penny. It was misleading and I don’t know what words to use other than it was a blatant lie.”

The judge agreed and ordered that Zimmerman should be back behind bars by Sunday afternoon.

“Does your client get to sit there like a potted plant and lead the court down the primrose path? That’s the issue,” Judge Lester said.

“He can’t sit back and obtain the benefit of a lower bond based upon those material falsehoods.”

The judge said he would schedule a hearing after Zimmerman is back in custody so he could explain himself.

Police in Sanford did not immediately arrest Zimmerman after the shooting, citing Florida’s “stand your ground” law that gives wide latitude to use deadly force rather than retreat in a fight if people believe they are in danger of being killed or seriously injured.