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Deputies looking for gunman in drive-by who shot a man outside a Holly Hill bottle club

Shooting victim Jeffrey HanksHeadline Surfer video produced by Sera Frederick / Warning: Video may no be suitable for all age groups. Surveillance video shows a man being shot outside the Papis Bottle Club, 1376 N. Nova Road, just outside the Holly Hill city limits early Friday morning.

HOLLY HILL -- Volusia County Sheriff's deputies are on the lookout this weekend for a gunman who opened fire early Friday on a man outside a bottle club -- bullets striking his leg and hand early Friday.

George Zimmernan's attorneys demand removal of Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester, saying he's biased

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Media pool photos by Orlando Sentinel / Accused killer George Zimmerman and his attorney, Mark O'Mara, are shown here in the June 29 bond hearing at the Seminole County Courthouse in Sanford where Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester heard arguments on why he should be granted bail after his truthfulness was called into question about his finances. The judge on July 5 granted $1 million bail. 

SANFORD -- George Zimmerman's attorneys want Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester disqualified from proceedings in the second-degree murder charge against him in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, saying the court is biased against him and because of that, he cannot get a fair trial.

Zimmerman's $1M bail means the defense doesn't have to force the state's hand with 'speedy trial' provisions

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Headline Surfer video produced by Sera King / Mark O'Mara, lead defense counsel for accused murderer George Zimmerman in the gunshot slaying of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, addresses the media after the latest bail hearing at the Seminole County Courthouse in Sanford, Florida. 

 

By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer

SANFORD, Fla. -- Had the judge in the George Zimmerman murder trial refused bail -- which he ultimately set at $1 million -- his defense team could have resorted to a legal maneuver that would have ramped up the high-profile case even more for both sides: a demand for a speedy trial.

Legalese: Florida's Speedy Trial provisions

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Had George Zimmerman not been released on bail, his defense team could have forced the state to take the case to trial within six months as opposed to the standard year or more in both sides preparing for a trial showdown.

Here is a boiler plate on a defendant's rights to demand a speedy trial:

Florida Highway Patrol: 7-year-old boy struck and killed in hit-and-run in greater Orlando

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Location of fatal hit and run of 7-year-old boyORLANDO -- A 7-year-old boy was struck by at least one vehicle late Monday night in the westbound lanes of Silver Star Road near Orlando West Drive in Pine Hills and pronounced dead at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children a short time later in an apparent hit-and-run, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

"At this time troopers are sorting out who left the scene," FHP spokesman Sgt. Kim Montes said of the 10:15 p.m. fatality.

Gov. Rick Scott appoints three Daytona-area lawyers to the 7th judicial circuit nominating commission

Attorney Raven SwordAttorney Katherine Hurst MillerPrivate attorneys Raven Sword and Katherine Hurst Miller, shown left to right respectively, along with assistant public defender Steven Gosney, will have a hand in helping to choose candidates to serve on the bench in Volusia, Flagler, Putnam and St. Johns counties.

TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Rick Scott today announced the appointment of Steven N. Gosney, Katherine Hurst Miller and Raven E. Sword to the 7th judicial circuit nominating commission.

Pride of Pierson Chipper Jones in 2012 MLB All-Star speech: 'I am not going out losing my last one'

Chipper Jones Chipper Jones, shown here in a photo from his website, was all smiles at Tuesday night's MLB All-Star Game in Kansas City, Mo., hitting a single in the 6th inning.

PIERSON -- Chipper Jones -- the pride of Pierson, Florida --  rallied his National League All-Stars in a pre-game speech Tuesday night before they took to the field in Kansas City and shut out their American League counterparts, 8-0.

Tony Stewart's big win in Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway tainted by post-race inspection

Photo for Headline Surfer / Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Chevrolet, crosses the finish line ahead of Jeff Burton, driver of the No. 31 Chevrolet, to win the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday.
By HENRY FREDERICK
Headline Surfer

Debates to be held at Brannon Center in New Smyrna Beach

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Adam Barringer and Sally MackayNew Smyrna Beach debateNew Smyrna Beach debateHeadline Surfer photos by Sera Frederick / A series of public debates in 2009 in New Smyrna Beach, including this one at the Brannon Center, headlined by the race for mayor between then-incumbent Sally Mackay and Adam Barringer, who won the election that year, drew hundreds of citizens. Headline Surfer is the first media outlet in Volusia County to hold public debates this election season, again at the Brannon Center. 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Headline Surfer will hold seven media-style debates on July 21 at the Brannon Center that will include and encourage public participation with the candidates.

Sheriff's Office: Pizzeria employee in DeLand robbed of night bank deposit at gunpoint while getting into car

Robbery outside DeLand pizzeriaThe arrow points to the Papa Johns restaurant outside the DeLand city limits where an employee was robbed by a lone gunman.

DELAND -- The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the armed robbery of an employee of a North Woodland Boulevard pizzeria who had the night deposit cash on him when a gun was shoved in his face as he was getting into his vehicle.

Deputies arrived within 3 minutes of the 1:52 a.m. Saturday 9-1-1 call made by the victim outside the Papa Johns.

"Once there, deputies learned that an employee was getting into his car when a stranger emerged from an adjacent parking lot, thrust a gun through the passenger side window of the victim’s car, pointed the weapon at the victim and demanded his money," Sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said. "The victim immediately complied and handed over a bag containing the cash for the night deposit."