Florida's 'Stand Your Ground' law is not at issue -- but definitely in the background as Zimmerman faces second-degree murder rap
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| George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watchman who says he killed Travyon Martin in self-defense, will go on trial on June 10, 2013. |
The trial of a Florida neighborhood watchman accused of gunning down Trayvon Martin has been set for June 10.
George Zimmerman, who is charged with second degree murder in the shooting of the unarmed black teenager, has pleaded not guilty in the racially charged case that drew national attention.
Zimmerman, 29, fatally shot Martin on Feb. 26 after he spotted the hoodie-wearing 17-year-old in his gated community in Sanford, Fla.
“This guy looks like he is up to no good or he’s on drugs or something,” he told a police dispatcher, according to a transcript.
Zimmerman later claimed Martin attacked him and that he shot the teen in self-defense.
Prosecutors say Zimmerman wrongly profiled Martin and assumed the teen — who was simply walking home from a 7-Eleven with Skittles and an Arizona iced tea — was a criminal.
Zimmerman, whose family says he is Hispanic, was initially freed without charge under Florida's controversial "Stand Your Ground" law, which allows people to use lethal force if they fear for their lives.
That decision caused a nationwide uproar that led to Zimmerman’s arrest almost five weeks after Sanford police and local prosecutors had originally let him go.
Zimmerman remains free on $1 million bail.
His lawyer, Mark O’Mara, said he expects the trial to take three weeks.
O’Mara and Zimmerman are due back in court Friday where they will ask the court for more time to interview state witnesses.
— With News Wire Services
csiemaszko@nydailynews.com
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