ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – An Isleworth millionaire accused of killing his wife will not be permitted to leave the state to attend his daughter's wedding in Georgia, a judge ruled Tuesday morning.
Bob Ward is awaiting a second trial in the 2009 killing of his wife, Diane Ward. He was convicted of second-degree murder in 2011, but that conviction was overturned.
A new trial will begin in February. Ward has been out on bond since August, but is not permitted to leave Orange County.
Ward asked the court for permission to attend his daughter's wedding, but a judge denied that request during a hearing at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Lawyers said the trip would have only been a weekend and he would return on a Monday.
They pointed out that Ward has never missed a court date, followed all orders and maintained weekly contact with authorities.
The judge said he could not go because he does not wear a GPS monitoring device, making it impossible to track his whereabouts.
“On the first case there was a GPS monitor, there was a way to monitor him...once he leaves the state of Florida. I wish he could be with his daughter, but I'm going to deny the motion to allow him to travel at this time,” the judge said.