Stardog
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Attorneys for George Zimmerman today filed paperwork, asking the judge to delay the start of his trial for six weeks.
Zimmerman, a former Neighborhood Watch volunteer, is currently set to stand trial June 10 in Sanford on a charge of second-degree murder.
He shot Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black 17-year-old, after the two got into what neighbors described as a fight Feb. 26, 2012.
Zimmerman says he acted in self-defense. Prosecutors say the defendant profiled Trayvon, falsely believed the teenager was about to commit a crime, followed and murdered him.
Defense attorneys last week said they'd ask for a delay because they need more time to hire an audio expert to counter the testimony of a state witness, who's expected to testify that the voice heard screaming for help in the background of a 911 call was Trayvon.
They filed paperwork, making the request today.
Circuit Judge Debra S. Nelson has twice said no to trial delays. She's expected to rule on the latest request Tuesday.
Also today, defense attorney Mark O'Mara filed new paperwork, again accusing prosecutors of hiding evidence that would help his client.
This time, he alleges that Assistant State Attorney Bernie de la Rionda lied to the judge when he told her April 30 that he had no other information or data from Trayvon's cell phone.
He did, O'Mara wrote, and they include photos of marijuana plants, a semiautomatic pistol plus text messages in which Trayvon wrote about being in a fight and asking about guns.
The judge previously ruled that de la Rionda had not violated rules of criminal procedure by withholding evidence, but she put off until after Zimmerman's trial ruling on whether the prosecutor should have to reimburse defense attorneys for the added work required to find out what he had failed to disclose.
George Zimmerman continuance - OrlandoSentinel.com
For such an open and shut case, I'm surprised the defense keeps stalling. I'm also surprised they would waive the immunity hearing. The defense should be eager and ready to go to trial and show the world how innocent their client is.