A date has been set: George Zimmerman will go to trial on June 10, 2013, for the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.
The trial date was set Wednesday during a docket sounding with Judge Debra Nelson, who took over the case in late August. Zimmerman was not in court when the decision was made.
A docket sounding is the last effort by the judge and attorneys to schedule specific dates and times for trial proceedings.
In some cases, it could also be the last chance for the defendant to take a plea deal.
A formal hearing in the case is scheduled for Friday.
Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder for shooting and killing Trayvon Martin in February.
He has claimed he shot the teen in self-defense, saying Martin attacked him and citing Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law. However, prosecutors alleged Zimmerman spotted and profiled the teen, assumed he was about to commit a crime and followed him.
Zimmerman’s legal team said it will likely request a “Stand Your Ground” hearing for April or May 2013 to determine if the law applies to this case. If the judge finds it does, the charges against Zimmerman could be dropped.
George Zimmerman’s wife, Shellie, is also scheduled in court on Dec. 12. Shellie Zimmerman was arrested in June on perjury charges. Prosecutors said she lied in court about the couple’s finances during her husband’s first bond hearing in April.
- This is a developing news story. Check back and refresh this article for the latest updates.
Breaking: George Zimmerman Trial Date Set [DETAILS] was originally published on wzakcleveland.com
