Zimmerman Jury Working Saturday

(NECN/NBC: Jay Gray, Sanford, Fla.) - The jury in the George Zimmerman trial has been allowed to set their own schedule, but they decided to continue deliberations on Saturday after closing arguments concluded on Friday afternoon.

Their decision will be under the national spotlight as they decide Zimmerman's fate with each side's closing arguments fresh in their minds.

On Friday, defense attorney Mark O'Mara used visual aides, including an animated re-enactment of their version of the events, to solidify their argument that Zimmerman killed Trayvon Martin in self-defense.

"He's not guilty of anything but protecting his own life," O'Mara told the jury.

But the prosecution pushed back, playing on the jury's emotions and humanizing the 17-year-old Martin.

"That child had every right to be afraid of a strange man following him," prosecutor John Guy said.

Guy played on the notion that Zimmerman was a wannabe cop with a loaded gun, and that his decision to profile Martin set off the chain of events leading to the boy's death.

"Trayvon Martin may not have the defendant's blood on his hands, but George Zimmerman will forever have Trayvon Martin's blood on his. Forever," he said.

With both sides finished with their final statements, the jury took the case to its final stage. They will consider whether Zimmerman committed second degree murder, but they have the option to consider manslaughter, a lesser offense.

For more, watch the attached video.

Copyright NECNMIGR - NECN
Contact Us