Second Day of Jury Selection in George Zimmerman Trial

Potential jurors return to Seminole County courthouse for second day of jury selection

A total of 71 people have been dismissed so far as possible jury candidates in the George Zimmerman murder trial.

Tuesday was day two of jury selection, with lawyers conducting one-on-one interviews with candidates.

Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in February 2012. He has pleaded not guilty, saying it was self-defense.

Circuit Judge Debra Nelson is presiding over the case, which is expected to last more than a month.

Everyone who was interviewed had heard something about the story of Zimmerman and Martin.

"It was two people being in the wrong place at the wrong time and two people instigating something that probably could have been avoided," said one juror candidate.

"And there was like a struggle and the gun went off and then the young man died and Zimmerman was injured through the struggle," said another.

This portion of jury selection is specifically focused on pretrial publicity, and how much potential jurors have seen, heard or read.

Attorneys from both sides asked a lot about the news.

“Based on the questionnaire you filled out you have some information you have gleaned from the media is that correct?” asked Assistant State Attorney Bernie de la Rionda.

“Yes sir that it is correct,” the potential juror said.

“And would that have been from local and national or just local?” de la Rionda asked.

“Just local,” said the potential juror.

“OK,” de la Rionda replied.

Mark O'Mara, Zimmerman's attorney, asked another juror candidate: “Your default national program is the Today show?”

“Yes sir,” the person replied.

“Did you say you saw something about this case on the Today show?” asked O’Mara.

“At the very beginning when it happened,” said the potential juror.

Jury selection can be a tedious process, but critically important legal experts say, as the people chosen is often where a trial is won or lost.

Nelson has ruled that the identities of potential jurors will be kept confidential but potential jurors won't be sequestered, as defense attorneys requested.

Potential jurors are only being referred to by their jury numbers in court.

George Zimmerman has sued NBCUniversal, the parent company of this site, for defamation. The company has strongly denied his allegations.

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