Will George Zimmerman get out of jail after $135,000 lie?

George Zimmerman's attorney plans to seek a new bond hearing after a Florida judge put Zimmerman back in jail Sunday for lying about his finances. Zimmerman's attorney says he'll apologize to Judge Lester.

(Page 2 of 2)

Zimmerman, who was charged in April in the death of the 17-year-old Martin, was ordered by a judge Friday to return to jail. Zimmerman had been staying at an undisclosed location for his safety.

Related stories

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

His legal team said Sunday they hope Zimmerman's voluntary surrender will show he is not a flight risk. The money Zimmerman has raised is in an independent trust and cannot be directly accessed by Zimmerman or his attorneys, according to a news release.

Zimmerman maintains that he shot Martin in self-defense under Florida's so-called "stand-your-ground" law because the teenager was beating him up after confronting him about following Martin. Zimmerman had called 911 to complain about suspicious activity. Martin was walking from a convenience store to the home of his father's fiancée in the same gated community where Zimmerman lived.

Legal experts say Zimmerman's credibility could become an issue at trial, noting that the case hinges on jurors believing Zimmerman's account of what happened the night in February when Martin was killed.

Police in Sanford did not immediately arrest Zimmerman, citing the Florida stand-your-ground law that gives wide latitude to the use of deadly force rather than retreat in an altercation if someone believes he or she is in danger of being killed or seriously injured.

Protests were held across the nation, and the case spurred an emotional debate about whether race was a factor in Zimmerman's actions and in the initial police handling of the case. Zimmerman's father is white and his mother is from Peru.

After a special prosecutor eventually brought charges against Zimmerman, he was arrested 44 days after the killing.

Zimmerman's wife, Shellie, was asked about the website at the April bond hearing, but she said she didn't know how much money had been raised. The judge set bail at $150,000. Zimmerman was freed a few days later after posting $15,000 in cash — which is typical.

Prosecutor Bernie De la Rionda complained Friday, "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 defense countered that Zimmerman and his wife never used the money for anything, which indicated "there was no deceit."

Benjamin Crump, an attorney for Trayvon Martin's parents — Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton — said his clients have always said Zimmerman should remain in jail until trial.