Zimmerman trial judge will not step down

SANFORD, Fla., Aug. 1 (UPI) -- The judge in the second-degree murder trial of George Zimmerman in Sanford, Fla., chose not to recuse himself Wednesday, denying the defendant's request.

Judge Kenneth Lester Jr. made the formal ruling without commenting on a defense suggestion that Zimmerman would not be treated fairly.

In a bond order, Lester described Zimmerman as a manipulator who was gaming the criminal justice system by concealing $130,000 raised by a defense fund and a passport, and in a previous order, suggested Zimmerman might have fled without a court-ordered monitoring system, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

Zimmerman is currently free on $1 million bail, awaiting trial for killing 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, who was shot Feb. 26.