George Zimmerman defense team loses key rulings in Trayvon Martin case
| Washington
A judge in Sanford, Fla., ruled Tuesday against George Zimmerman鈥檚 defense team on several key issues in preparation for his trial on charges of second-degree murder in the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in February 2012.
In a two-hour hearing at the Seminole County Courthouse, Circuit Judge Debra Nelson ruled that defense attorneys will not be able to mention Trayvon鈥檚 past marijuana use, his suspension from school, or his alleged participation in fights in their opening statements. 聽聽
The rulings came after Mr. Zimmerman鈥檚 defense team recently posted online photos and text messages from Trayvon鈥檚 cellphone. The texts included several about being a fighter, smoking marijuana, and being ordered to move out of his home by his mother. The photos included a picture of what appeared to be a .40 caliber handgun, .
In other rulings, the judge refused to allow jurors to travel to the scene of the shooting, calling such an excursion 鈥渁 logistical nightmare.鈥� She also denied the defense鈥檚 request for a delay in the start of the trial, now scheduled to begin June 10.聽
In another victory for prosecutors, Judge Nelson granted their request to bar evidence about why it took so long for them to charge Zimmerman in the alleged crime. And she ruled against a defense motion that jury candidates be sequestered during the jury-selection process.
But not all of the rulings in Tuesday鈥檚 court action went against the defense. The judge denied the prosecutors' request for a gag order in the case. And she granted the defense team鈥檚 request to hold a hearing on whether the prosecution failed to turn over some evidence. A former attorney in the state attorney鈥檚 office has charged that prosecutors did not turn over some photos and text messages from Trayvon鈥檚 phone.
The judge will hold another hearing on June 6. At that session she will hear arguments about whether to admit testimony from a state audio expert, Alan Reich.聽 In a report to prosecutors, Mr. Reich says the audio of a 911 call has the voice of Trayvon saying in a trembling voice, 鈥淚 am begging you.鈥�
Benjamin Crump, an attorney for Trayvon鈥檚 family, said his family was pleased with the judge鈥檚 rulings. 鈥淭rayvon Martin is not on trial,鈥� Mr. Crump said.
After the hearing, Robert Zimmerman, George鈥檚 brother, called on the state to drop the second-degree murder charges. 鈥淚n this country. You don鈥檛 charge someone with any crime solely to assuage the concerns of misinformed masses,鈥� he said, according to CNN.
Zimmerman is charged with shooting Trayvon while serving as a neighborhood watch volunteer. Zimmerman called 911 to report 鈥渁 suspicious person鈥� in the neighborhood. Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty in Martin's death, saying he acted in self-defense.聽
鈥� Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.聽
