George Zimmerman Must Stay On 24-Hour Electronic Monitoring, Judge Rules

George Zimmerman must remain under 24-hour electronic monitoring and remain inside the county during his release awaiting trial for second-degree murder of an unarmed black teenager, a judge in Florida ruled on Tuesday.

Zimmerman’s legal team had asked Florida Circuit Judge Debra Nelson to modify the conditions of his release, discontinuing full-time GPS monitoring. Lawyers had also sought to allow George Zimmerman to travel outside the county, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Lead prosecutor Bernie De La Rionda argued that the state “objects strenuously to any modification of his GPS or his boundaries,” ABC News reported. He also reminded Nelson that Zimmerman had previously lied to the court about how much money he could accord for bond, and didn’t tell them about a second passport he had.

Zimmerman is accused of shooting 17-year-old Travyon Martin on February 26 as the teenager walked back home to a house where he and his father were staying. A self-appointed neighborhood watch captain, Zimmerman suspected that the teenager was in the gated neighborhood up to no good and reportedly confronted him.

He says he shot Martin during a scuffle and that he was acting in self-defense. Evidence seems to back his claim, as pictures were recently released from the night of the shooting showing a bruised and bloodied Zimmerman, though it is still unclear who provoked the fight.

Activists believe Martin was targeted for his race, and civil rights leaders have held demonstrations against Zimmerman, who was free for weeks before facing charges.

George Zimmerman is free on $1 million bond and has been living in hiding since his release. His trial is tentatively scheduled for mid-June.