Judge Debra Nelson denied again, a request by George Zimmerman’s defense attorney, Mark O’Mara to delay the start of the trial in the State versus George Zimmerman, following which jury selection got underway on Monday.
Some 500 potential jurors have been summoned from which six will be seated, with four alternates. Potential jurors have begun filling out confidential questionnaires, and some court watchers speculate that the process could take a couple weeks. Issues of race and gun control – for both the prosecution and defense – are expected to loom large in determining who gets to sit on the jury.
O’Mara argued before Nelson that the defense needs more time to prepare for trial, claiming the prosecution had hampered their preparation by not turning over discovery evidence in a timely fashion.
As in the past, prosecutors rejected O’Mara’s claim.
Judge Nelson said the seating of a jury will be alternated between unfinished business – a Frye hearing in which a motion was filed to determine whether to accept expert testimony on 911 calls made the night Zimmerman shot and killed Martin.
Tracy Martin, Trayvon’s father, standing with the family’s attorneys said on Monday, he is relieved that the trial has started. He expressed the hope for a fair and impartial trial and called on the community to stay peaceful. He also asked for prayers for Trayvon and the rest of the family.
Zimmerman, a Hispanic, is charged with second degree murder in the shooting death of Martin, an unarmed black teen, on February 26, 2012. He has claimed self-defense.
Prosecutors say, Zimmerman profiled Martin and shot him believed he was going to commit a crime on the night he murdered him.
