Judge denies request to modify George Zimmerman's bond conditions in Trayvon Martin case
Associated Press
SANFORD, Fla. — A Florida judge has denied defense requests to end 24-hour GPS monitoring of George Zimmerman while he is out on bond in the fatal shooting of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin.
Judge Debra Nelson denied bond requests from Zimmerman's defense team Tuesday. Besides dropping the monitoring, the defense wanted the former neighborhood watch volunteer to be able to live outside Seminole County.
Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder in the 17-year-old Martin's shooting following an altercation in Sanford in February. He has pleaded not guilty, claiming self-defense under Florida's "stand your ground" law.
Nelson has set a trial date for June 10. He also set a "stand your ground" hearing 45 days before trial where Zimmerman can argue it was self-defense and ask the judge to drop the charges. Last week, Zimmerman also announced he is suing NBC, claiming he was defamed when the network edited his 911 call to police after the shooting of Trayvon Martin to make it sound like he was racist.
The former neighborhood watch volunteer filed the lawsuit seeking an undisclosed amount of money on Thursday in Seminole County, outside Orlando.
The lawsuit claims NBC edited his phone call to a dispatcher last February. Zimmerman describes following Martin in the gated community where he lived, just moments before he fatally shot the 17-year-old teen during a confrontation.
NBC spokeswoman Kathy Kelly-Brown didn't immediately return a phone call. Three employees of NBC or an NBC-owned television station lost their jobs because of the changes.
Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder but has pleaded not guilty, claiming self-defense.
UPDATE (6:22 p.m.): NBC Universal has issued the following statement:
"We strongly disagree with the accusations made in the complaint. There was no intent to portray Mr. Zimmerman unfairly. We intend to vigorously defend our position in court."
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