George Zimmerman Delay Request Denied On Trayvon’s Birthday

The same day that Trayvon Martin would have turned 18, judges have denied a request from George Zimmerman’s defense team that would have delayed the trial yet again.

George Zimmerman’s lawyers asked Judge Debra Nelson to delay the trial to November because they say the prosecutors haven’t turned over crucial evidence, and cited a need for more money to Zimmerman’s defense fund. The state attorney denied the accusation, and Judge Nelson denied the motion, saying that the trial will begin on June 10 as planned.

Nelson told Zimmerman’s lead attorney that after nearly a year and a half of preparation time, his current troubles can be taken care of prior to the June trial date, reports NBC News.

Zimmerman’s attorney, Mark O’Mara said that he’d like to try the case in June, but he wants to get it right.

“I will call my wife as an expert witness that I want this case tried in June,” he said Tuesday. “There is no benefit to the defense team, there is certainly no benefit to Mr. Zimmerman and there is no benefit to the Martin family to keep this case going. I am very sensitive to that, but the reality is we have to try it once.”

Prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda criticized Zimmerman’s defense team of being too concerned with publicity to manage their time properly and build a defense.

“I have never had a case, at least here in central Florida, as a normal thing where the defense creates their own website, creates their own Facebook , creates their own Twitter and just publishes stuff out there, encourages discussion among various groups,” de la Rionda said. “I find it ironic that the defense complains they are now having to address all these issues, that with all due respect to the defense, they helped create.”

Zimmerman claims that he shot Trayvon Martin in self-defense.

The Orlando Sentinel reports that supporters of Trayvon Martin gathered outside of the Seminole County Courthouse on Tuesday to sing and pray for the latest court hearing. Before the 9am hearing, about a dozen people stood in front of the courthouse and sang gospel songs, holding posters in honor of Trayvon’s 18th birthday, which would have been today.

“Happy Birthday Trayvon,” read one of the posters. They sang “We Are Climbing Jacob’s Ladder” and “Victory is Mine,” among other songs.