George Zimmerman Wants To Testify At Trayvon Martin Murder Trial
May 29 2013, Published 7:04 a.m. ET
George Zimmerman, the former Neighborhood Watch Volunteer accused of shooting and killing 17-year-old Trayvon Martin wants to testify in his defense at the trial which is scheduled to begin on June 10, RadarOnline.com is exclusively reporting.
The 28-year-old could face life in prison for the shooting death of the teen from Sanford, Florida. The case has caused outrage across the country since the tragic shooting took place last year.
Zimmerman, is facing a second degree murder charge for shooting the unarmed teen.
Lawyers for Zimmerman are "readily preparing for trial. George is ready and willing to testify," a source close to the case tells RadarOnline.com exclusively. "George feels that the jury needs to hear from his own mouth what really happened leading up to the shooting.
"George maintains it was absolutely self-defense. Normally, criminal defense attorneys don't want to put their client on the stand, but in this case, Mark O'Mara (George's attorney) feels so strongly in the evidence, and in his innocence, he would be inclined to allow him to testify.
"The decision to put George on the stand won't come until the prosecution rests their case," the source close to the case added.
On Monday, Judge Debra Nelson ruled that Zimmerman's lawyers couldn't mention Trayvon's suspension from school, marijuana use, or past fighting during opening statements. The judge also denied the defense's request for a delay in the trial.
The jury won't be sequestered as requested by O'Mara, and a gag order the prosecutors were seeking barring lawyers from discussing the case with the media, was also denied.
Benjamin Crump, attorney for Martin's parents, praised the judge for not allowing jurors to hear about certain details of the slain teenager's life.
“Trayvon Martin did not have a gun. Trayvon Martin did not get out of the car to chase anybody. Trayvon Martin did not shoot and kill anybody. Trayvon Martin is not on trial,” Crump said outside of the courthouse.
Sound off in the comment section below, do you think George Zimmerman should testify at the trial?
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