Zimmerman Trial Attorneys Pick 40 Potential Jurors Tuesday
SANFORD (CBSMiami/AP) — After seven days of interviewing potential jurors for the trial of George Zimmerman, the man charged in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, prosecutors and defense attorneys have selected a pool of 40 potential jurors for further questioning.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys had been questioning jurors about their exposure to media coverage of the case. They will now be able to ask those invited to the next round more detailed questions about how they feel about the case.
Zimmerman was driving through the gated community where he lived on the evening of Feb. 26, 2012, when he saw Martin walking back from a convenience store to a home belonging to his father's fiancee. Zimmerman called a nonemergency police number, followed Martin and at some point a fight erupted between them that left Martin dead.
The case is racially charged. A 44-day delay in Zimmerman's arrest led to protests around the nation. Protesters questioned whether the Sanford Police Department was investigating the case seriously because Martin was a black teen from the Miami area. Zimmerman identifies himself as Hispanic.
Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder. He is pleading not guilty.
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