George Zimmerman, the volunteer neighborhood watchman accused in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, has been released from a Florida jail after posting $150,000 bond as he awaits trial.

Zimmerman was was arrested April 11, 2012 and charged with 2nd degree murder in the death of Martin.

After spending only 12 days in jail, exited the John E. Polk Correctional Facility (JEPCF) at the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office at approximately midnight on Monday. April 23, 2012.

Details + photos below…

According to a statement from the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, the 28-year-old posted bond and was fitted with an electronic GPS monitoring device prior to release, which can give immediate identification of an offender’s whereabouts at any given time.

The device will be closely monitored by the SCSO and Seminole County Probation to ensure Zimmerman doesn’t attempt to flee.

At a bond hearing Friday morning, a judge agreed to allow Zimmerman, who is charged with second degree murder, to post a $150,000 bond to get out of jail.

The prosecution had argued that Zimmerman should be denied bail or that it should be set at $1 million.

Zimmerman is being held on charges of second-degree murder for the Feb. 26 shooting of Martin, 17, which could carry a life sentence if he is convicted.

George Zimmerman stunned a Florida court Friday by taking the stand and apologizing to the parents of Trayvon Martin, who were sitting in the courtroom during Zimmerman’s bond hearing.

Zimmerman addressed Martin’s family directly, stating:

“I am sorry for the loss of your son. I did not know how old he was. I thought he was a little bit younger than I am. I did not know if he was armed or not.”

Zimmerman told police the night he shot and killed Martin that he acted in self-defense after Martin punched him and pounced on him. He also told police that Martin bashed his head into the concrete sidewalk during the altercation that took place in the tidy middle-class development of the Retreat at Twin Lakes in Sanford, Fla.

In related news, Martin’s parents published a “Card of Thanks” in The Miami Herald obituary page yesterday.

The ad was a thank you to those who have supported their efforts to get authorities to arrest George Zimmerman, the man now charged in the Feb. 26 killing in Sanford of their 17-year-old son, who lived in Miami Gardens and attended Dr. Michael M. Krop High.

The ad appeared in Sunday?s Obituaries, Memorials and Services pages in the Local & State section of the newspaper.

In the ad, the parents say they ?wish to express their heartfelt appreciation for all your words of encouragement, your peaceful rally support , the millions who signed petitions, poems, painting, music, video tributes, monetary gifts to our defense fund (Wepay.com) and all other acts of kindness shown to them during this difficult time.?

Ad also shows a photograph of Trayvon wearing a hoodie. (source)

?R.I.P. Trayvon Martin

Do you think that justice will actually be served in this case?