George Zimmerman could go on trial for killing Trayvon Martin next June.
During a scheduling hearing Wednesday, Judge Debra Nelson set a tentative trial date of June 10, 2013.
Nelson had her first hearing Wednesday as the presiding judge for the case since she was assigned to it in August. She is the third judge to be assigned to the case.
Read more: Meet Zimmerman’s new judge
The court’s public information officer told In Session Friday that, in January, Nelson will be re-assigned to the 18th Judicial Circuit of Florida civil division, but will keep the Zimmerman case for the sake of “continuity.”
Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty to a second-degree murder charge for shooting 17-year-old Martin on February 26. Martin was returning from a convenience store and was unarmed. Zimmerman told police he shot the teen in self-defense.
Zimmerman may be able to avoid criminal and civil liability for Martin’s death if he wins a pre-trial hearing on Florida's “Stand Your Ground” law.
Mark O’Mara, Zimmerman's attorney, says the defense will be filing a motion requesting a Stand Your Ground hearing. If the motion is granted, he believes the hearing would happen a month or two before trial.
Another hearing is scheduled for Friday. Attorneys are expected to argue over how the prosecution will release more evidence to the defense, and whether more evidence will be released to the public.
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