BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. — A 20-year-old man charged with second-degree murder was temporarily released from jail Saturday morning to attend his father’s funeral, prompting outrage from the victim’s family.
Larry Lamar Smith was granted a one-day release from the Broward County Main Jail after a judge approved a request filed by his defense attorney.
Smith, who was arrested last month in the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Myrah Zeigler, walked out of the jail at 9 a.m., escorted by his mother and another individual.
He wore a court-ordered GPS ankle monitor and kept his face covered. He did not respond to any questions from Local 10’s Hannah Yechivi.
The release was approved earlier this week by Judge Barbara Duffy following a court hearing.
Prosecutors had objected to the request, citing public safety concerns. The Broward State Attorney’s Office said in a statement that the court ordered Smith to be “accompanied by his mother” and remain on GPS monitoring throughout the day.
Zeigler’s mother, Alacia Ford-Barron, called the decision a “slap in the face.”
“I can’t go pick my daughter out that grave and let me spend some time with her, but he’s able to go home and lay in his bed? No, that’s not right,” Ford-Barron told Local 10 News.
Smith is accused of killing Zeigler following a dispute outside an Airbnb in Fort Lauderdale in May. Jail records show he is being held without bond on a charge of second-degree murder.
Legal experts say such temporary releases are rare but not unprecedented.
“This is an extremely rare ruling,” said criminal defense attorney Mark Eiglarsh. “It happens, and I applaud judges who take risks, who are compassionate — but that understanding is with the risk that (the defendant) could not return to court or worse, commit a new offense while they are out.”
The funeral service for Smith’s father was scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday in Miami. Smith is required to return to the Broward County jail by 7 p.m.
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