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| George Zimmerman trial date set for June over Trayvon Martin killing | George Zimmerman trial date set for June over Trayvon Martin killing |
| (6 months later) | |
| George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watchman charged with the murder of teenager Trayvon Martin, will go on trial on 10 June, a judge ruled on Wednesday. | George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watchman charged with the murder of teenager Trayvon Martin, will go on trial on 10 June, a judge ruled on Wednesday. |
| The trial date was set by judge Debra Nelson in a Florida court, but the court noted that there are still several unresolved matters to complete. As such the start of the trial may be pushed back further. | The trial date was set by judge Debra Nelson in a Florida court, but the court noted that there are still several unresolved matters to complete. As such the start of the trial may be pushed back further. |
| Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting of 17-year-old Martin in February – an incident that led to protests across the US and put state gun laws and race relations in America under a spotlight. | Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting of 17-year-old Martin in February – an incident that led to protests across the US and put state gun laws and race relations in America under a spotlight. |
| Martin was killed as he walked back to the home of his father's girlfriend in Sanford, Florida, after a trip to a convenience store. After trailing the youth, whom Zimmerman claimed was acting suspiciously, the pair engaged in a fight during which Martin was fatally shot. | Martin was killed as he walked back to the home of his father's girlfriend in Sanford, Florida, after a trip to a convenience store. After trailing the youth, whom Zimmerman claimed was acting suspiciously, the pair engaged in a fight during which Martin was fatally shot. |
| Zimmerman claimed self-defence, citing Florida's controversial stand-your-ground law. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder. | Zimmerman claimed self-defence, citing Florida's controversial stand-your-ground law. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder. |
| Supporters of the Martin family have claimed that the shooting had a racial element, and that Zimmerman may have targeted Martin for attention because he was black. | Supporters of the Martin family have claimed that the shooting had a racial element, and that Zimmerman may have targeted Martin for attention because he was black. |
| A recorded conversation between the shooter and a 911 operator shortly before the incident may have contained a racial slur, some have claimed, although this has been dismissed by Zimmerman and his lawyers. | A recorded conversation between the shooter and a 911 operator shortly before the incident may have contained a racial slur, some have claimed, although this has been dismissed by Zimmerman and his lawyers. |
| Nonetheless, the allegations stoked tensions in the immediate aftermath of the shooting on 26 February, prompting demonstration and claims of police mishandling in the case. | Nonetheless, the allegations stoked tensions in the immediate aftermath of the shooting on 26 February, prompting demonstration and claims of police mishandling in the case. |
| Next year's trial is expected to last three weeks. | Next year's trial is expected to last three weeks. |
| Attorneys in the case return to court on Friday for what is expected to be a lengthy hearing for arguments on several motions, including the defence asking for more time to interview state witnesses. | Attorneys in the case return to court on Friday for what is expected to be a lengthy hearing for arguments on several motions, including the defence asking for more time to interview state witnesses. |
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