Judge Debra S. Nelson Sets Date of June 10, 2013 for Start of George Zimmerman Murder Case in Death of Trayvon Martin

The new judge in the George Zimmerman murder trial in the death of Trayvon Martin has been set. Judge Debra S. Nelson set the date of June 10, 2013 for the start date of the trial. Nelson was appointed to the murder case after an appeals court said that Judge Lester had to step down because he could not be impartial.  George Zimmerman is being charged with second-degree murder for shooting Trayvon Martin. The trial is expected to last about three weeks, some have speculated that jury selection may take longer than that.

Presently Zimmerman is free on bail. Zimmerman attorney Mark O’Mara tweeted, a “self-defense immunity hearing is likely to be requested for April or May.”

George Zimmerman’s murder trial in the death of Trayvon Martin was set for June 10 during a hearing in court this morning.

Zimmerman, 29, is charged with second-degree murder for shooting Trayvon, an unarmed 17-year-old, in Sanford Feb. 26, a homicide that set off civil-rights rallies across the country.

This morning, Circuit Judge Debra Nelson set Zimmerman’s trial for June 10. Attorneys in the case said they estimate the trial will last three weeks. Prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda said he expected jury selection would take longer than the trial itself.

The hearing, known as a docket sounding, lasted about six minutes. Though the judge set a date, Zimmerman attorney Mark O’Mara was noncommittal about when he’d be fully prepared.