George Zimmerman has been granted his wish to have another judge preside over this second-degree murder case. A Florida appeals court ruled that Judge Kenneth Lester must step down on grounds that he is bias, claims which were first made by Zimmerman’s lawyer.
Although Lester granted Zimmerman bond more than once, he lauded the accused killer and his wife for lying to authorities when asked about their finances. Lester wrote in a letter that Zimmerman clearly “flouted the system” for “his own benefit.”
Zimmerman’s wife, Shellie, was arrested on a perjury charge but released from custody 30-minutes later.
Lester’s written statement was seen as damaging to Zimmerman’s credibility. The appeals court ruled that Lester “created reasonable fear in Mr. Zimmerman that the court is biased against him, and as a result of this prejudice cannot receive a fair and impartial trial or hearing by the trial court.”
According to the legal website created by lawyer, Mike O’Mara, a new judge is expected to be “assigned shortly.”
The 28-year-old is accused of second-degree murder in the February shooting death of 17-year-0ld Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman alleges that he took Martin’s life in self-defense, and was fearful that the teen was going to kill him.
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Photo: BET
