Judge denies George Zimmerman's request to delay trial By Rene Stutzman and Jeff Weiner, Orlando Sentinel
11:25 a.m. EST, February 5, 2013
(Snipped excerpts from article)SANFORD – A judge has denied George Zimmerman's request to delay his trial in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.
The trial remains set for June 10. Circuit Judge Debra Nelson issued her ruling during an often heated one-hour hearing this morning.
The legal arguments began at 9 a.m. Defense attorney Mark O'Mara acknowledged the teen's birthday at the start of the hearing, stating that "no matter what, a tragedy occurred."
Next up, O'Mara asked the judge to grant the defense access to purchase records from a 7-Eleven where Trayvon shopped the night of the shooting. The state did not object, and the judge granted the motion.
O'Mara also wanted Zimmerman's trial delayed. O'Mara had argued in a lengthy motion that there's much work left to be done, and many depositions to conduct. The defense, he said, has had to fight the state for key evidence, and can't possibly be ready by June.
"The only additional argument is I need more time," O'Mara said in court today.
Prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda countered that O'Mara doesn't deserve any more time.
The attorneys argued about data downloaded from Trayvon's phone. O'Mara has said there's information the state is withholding.
Nelson told the state to provide a full chain of custody report for the phone, indicating which tests were conducted where.
O'Mara also asked the judge to order the state to provide further information on the social media accounts of Witness 8.
The judge ruled that the defense can get the social media information through a "mini" deposition, before the witness is formally deposed.
The defense also wanted to depose Benjamin Crump, an attorney for the Martin family. However, Crump's attorney, Bruce Blackwell, countered that the deposition was improper -- Crump, Blackwell said, is not a witness in the case.
Rather, Crump filed a 15-page affidavit, explaining how he found Witness 8 and the circumstances of his interview with the girl. Blackwell argued that should be enough.
The defense argued that Crump has relevant information on other topics, and asked to depose him. The judge delayed that deposition, which had been set for today.
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