May 21, 2013
SANFORD, Fla. (AP) -- A judge has set a tentative trial date next year for the neighborhood watch volunteer charged with fatally shooting Trayvon Martin.
Judge Debra S. Nelson set June 10 as the start of George Zimmerman's trial on a second-degree murder charge. Zimmerman claims the February shooting of the 17-year-old Martin was self-defense.
Zimmerman's defense team tweeted after the hearing that they will likely ask for a "stand your ground" hearing in April or May. If the judge were to side with Zimmerman at the hearing, the murder charge would be dismissed and there would be no trial.
It was Nelson's first hearing in the case. An appeals court removed the previous judge, saying he made disparaging remarks about Zimmerman's character.
