Well, look who’s back in the news with girlfriend trouble, as reported by the Orlando Sentinel. And, consistent with similar past events, that girlfriend trouble has lead directly to jail, do not pass “GO,” do not collect $200.
George Zimmerman’s girlfriend, pulled over yesterday by police for a routine traffic stop, volunteered to them that he had thrown a wine bottle at her the prior Monday while she was visiting Zimmerman’s Lake Mary residence. Nobody called the police at that time, nor at any time prior to the girlfriend being pulled over by police last night.
Officers stopped by Zimmerman’s residence within hours of the girlfriend’s report, arresting him on charges of aggravated assault. He was promptly arraigned, and represented at his arraignment by Attorney Don West. It was West, along with Mark O’Mara, who represented Zimmerman at his murder trial for the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman was, of course, acquitted of all charges in that trial.
At arraignment Zimmerman was granted bail at $5,000, with the conditions that he not contact the girlfriend and turn over all his firearms. The State had also requested that the Court order Zimmerman to wear a GPS device. West objected to the GPS in part on the grounds that “Mr. Zimmerman has a well-established history of appearing as requested in court,” and the Court elected to do without the device.
This does not, frankly, strike me as the most robust aggravated assault case to come floating out of Florida. It’s worth remembering that Zimmerman has a history of girlfriends bringing criminal charges against him only to have those charges disappear into the wind.
I suppose, of course, that we need to wait until we see or hear the actual evidence.
Zimmerman’s next court date is February 17. We will, of course, keep an eye on things as they develop.
–-Andrew, @LawSelfDefense
NEW! The Law of Self Defense proudly announces the launch of it’s online, on-demand state-specific Law of Self Defense Online Training. These are interactive, online versions of the authoritative 5-hour-long state-specific Law of Self Defense Seminars that we give all over the country, but from the convenience of your laptop, tablet, or smartphone, and on your own schedule. Click over for more information on our state-specific Law of Self Defense Online Training, and get access to the ~30 minute Section 1. Introduction for free.
Andrew F. Branca is an MA lawyer and the author of the seminal book “The Law of Self Defense, 2nd Edition,” available at the Law of Self Defense blog (autographed copies available) and Amazon.com (paperback and Kindle). He also holds Law of Self Defense Seminars around the country, and provides free online self-defense law video lectures at the Law of Self Defense Institute and podcasts through iTunes, Stitcher, and elsewhere.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY