George Zimmerman Trial: Pool of potential jurors narrowed down in Trayon Martin killing
(CBS/AP) SANFORD, Fla. - Attorneys trying to narrow down a pool of potential jurors for George Zimmerman's high-profile murder trial are getting closer to being allowed to ask the candidates more detailed questions about their lives.
PICTURES: George Zimmerman in court
READ: Trayvon Martin Shooting: A timeline of events
After two days of questioning more than a dozen people about how much publicity on the case they have already been exposed to, Wednesday could be the day lawyers get to delve deeper. By the end of the day Tuesday, the attorneys had questioned 14 potential jurors in person, and 70 jury candidates had been dismissed after filling out an initial questionnaire. That includes 30 released Tuesday.
Zimmerman was back in court Wednesday for the third day of jury selection. Proceedings began at 9 a.m.
In the jury selection process established by Circuit Judge Debra Nelson, once 30 jurors have been questioned individually about pretrial exposure and have not been dismissed for cause or hardships, they will be brought together as a group for broader questioning by lawyers on both sides.
Thus far, Zimmerman's attorneys have been unable to find potential jurors who hadn't heard something about the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin by the neighborhood watch volunteer. Many, however, said they felt they would be able to judge Zimmerman impartially based on evidence presented in court.
"My impressions are we should look at the crime - I don't think it's a racial issue," said one of the jury candidates questioned Wednesday, a woman identified as "B-61" who said she's watched news reports about the case on Good Morning America. "I think it's more what was right, what was wrong. We have laws for a reason."
"B-61" said she hasn't seen any of the court proceedings in the case or paid closer attention since she received her summons. Defense attorney Mark O'Mara questioned her closely about a statement she made about seeing a website for Zimmerman's defense fund, asking her if the website was a cause for concern.
"I just thought it was different - I don't think I've seen a defendant ask for money in the past," she said.
One potential juror, a man, made several statements suggesting he may to be able to be impartial - including "murder is murder" and can't be justified by self-defense, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
The potential juror's questioning ended quickly without questions from the defense, reports the paper.
Zimmerman is pleading not guilty to a second-degree murder charge that could carry a life sentence if he is convicted. He claims he shot Martin in self-defense. A 44-day delay in Zimmerman's arrest led to protests around the United States.
Protesters questioned whether the Sanford Police Department was seriously investigating the case of Martin, a black teen from the Miami area. Zimmerman identifies himself as Hispanic.
Nelson has said she will keep the identities of the selected jurors anonymous but she rejected a defense request to sequester the initial jury pool of 500 residents.
Attorneys need to find six jurors and four alternates. In Florida, 12 jurors are required only for criminal trials involving capital cases, when the death penalty is being considered.
Complete coverage of the George Zimmerman-Trayvon Martin case on Crimesider
