George Zimmerman case moves forward, limits on Trayvon Martin character evidence

George Zimmerman’s trial for second-degree murder is still set to begin June 10, despite the defense’s request to delay the trial,.

Judge Debra Nelson ruled Tuesday that attorneys will not be allowed to mention Trayvon Martin’s marijuana use, suspension from school and past fighting during the trial’s opening statements. The judge did, however, leave the door open to allowing some of those details as evidence during testimony.

Nelson also banned any mention of some of Trayvon Martin’s texts and other social media statements during opening statements, though some of the teen’s personal history could be allowed later with a ruling from the judge, depending on how the case progresses.

Defense attorney Mark O’Mara said he was happy with the judge’s rulings, saying the only time he would use such evidence would be if the state tried to attack the character of George Zimmerman.

“This information, all of it, is only going to become relevant for the defense case, according to how the state handles their presentation,” said O’Mara. “If this case is limited solely to what happened from the beginning of the non-emergency call to the end of the emergency call, which includes the shot to Trayvon Martin — if that is what this case is going to be limited to, then this evidence may not be relevant at all.”

O’Mara told the judge that Martin’s marijuana use and past fighting was central to the argument that Zimmerman used self-defense when he confronted Martin last year.

“We have a lot of evidence that marijuana use had something to do with the event,” O’Mara said. “It could have affected his behavior.”

An attorney for Martin’s family, Benjamin Crump, said the teen’s parents were pleased with the judge’s rulings.

“Trayvon Martin is not on trial,” Crump said.

Zimmerman claims he shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in self-defense.

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