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Zimmerman Attorneys Denied Trial Delay at Hearing

George Zimmerman attorneys were denied a delay for the second-degree murder trial, which is scheduled to begin in June.

A Florida judge denied George Zimmerman's attorneys a delay for the trial in the killing of unarmed teen Trayvon Martin.
At a hearing Tuesday morning, Judge Debra Nelson said Trayvon's past marijuana use, school suspensions or alleged fighting, cannot not be used as evidence at the trial without "clearing several legal hurdles and another ruling granting permission," according to the Orlando Sentinel.

During opening statements of the trial, the defense is also not allowed to bring up Trayvon's text messages and that an active ingredient of marijuana was found in Trayvon's system.

Judge Nelson also ruled that jurors will not be allowed to go to the scene of the shooting. The media will not be allowed to photograph them.

She will later decide whether audio expert Alan Reich, whose credibility was questioned by the defense in their requests, will be allowed to testify during the trial at a hearing on June 6. 

Zimmerman's lawyers want Reich barred from testifying. He says he heard Trayvon's voice on a 911 call yelling out "I'm begging you." The defense has hired an expert who will testify that the screams were from Zimmerman.

Last week the defense released text messages and images from Trayvon's cellphone, which they argued should be relevant to the case. But prosecutors have their own concerns and are arguing that this information, as well as Trayvon's history of fighting and marijuana use, should not be included as evidence in the case.

Zimmerman, the former neighborhood watch volunteer, pleaded not guilty and claimed self-defense in the killing of Trayvon on the night of Feb. 26, 2012.

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(Photo: Joe Burbank-Pool/Getty Images)

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