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| Florida braces for George Zimmerman trial verdict | Florida braces for George Zimmerman trial verdict |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Florida officials have appealed for calm as the trial of a neighbourhood watchman who shot dead an unarmed black 17-year-old enters its final phase. | Florida officials have appealed for calm as the trial of a neighbourhood watchman who shot dead an unarmed black 17-year-old enters its final phase. |
| Closing arguments have begun in the trial of George Zimmerman, 29, who is charged with the second-degree murder of Trayvon Martin in February 2012. | |
| A judge told jurors on Thursday that they could convict him of manslaughter, but ruled out another lower charge. | A judge told jurors on Thursday that they could convict him of manslaughter, but ruled out another lower charge. |
| The accused says he shot the teenager in self-defence in an Orlando suburb. | |
| Police took six weeks to arrest Mr Zimmerman after the killing, which stoked racial tensions and spawned mass, peaceful protests. | Police took six weeks to arrest Mr Zimmerman after the killing, which stoked racial tensions and spawned mass, peaceful protests. |
| 'Don't be violent' | 'Don't be violent' |
| Community leaders in the town of Sanford, where the shooting occurred, say they have been working to smooth tensions in case Mr Zimmerman is acquitted. | Community leaders in the town of Sanford, where the shooting occurred, say they have been working to smooth tensions in case Mr Zimmerman is acquitted. |
| "It's all right to be vocal, but we don't want to be violent," said Rev Walter Richardson, a pastor and chairman of Miami-Dade County's Community Relations Board, according to the Associated Press. | "It's all right to be vocal, but we don't want to be violent," said Rev Walter Richardson, a pastor and chairman of Miami-Dade County's Community Relations Board, according to the Associated Press. |
| "We've already lost one soul and we don't want to lose any more." | "We've already lost one soul and we don't want to lose any more." |
| Trayvon Martin was walking to the home of his father's fiancee from a convenience shop when the fatal confrontation ensued with the neighbourhood watch volunteer in a gated community on a rainy evening. | |
| Before the prosecution began its closing argument on Thursday, after 12 days of testimony, a judge gave instructions to the sequestered jury of six women. | |
| Seminole County Judge Debra Nelson said they could also convict Mr Zimmerman for manslaughter. | Seminole County Judge Debra Nelson said they could also convict Mr Zimmerman for manslaughter. |
| But she ruled out another lesser charge of third-degree murder, amid strong objections from the defence team. | But she ruled out another lesser charge of third-degree murder, amid strong objections from the defence team. |
| Debate over screams | Debate over screams |
| Lawyers argued the move was a "trick" from the prosecution, because the lesser charge of third-degree murder would be based on the argument that Mr Zimmerman committed child abuse against Martin, who was a minor. | Lawyers argued the move was a "trick" from the prosecution, because the lesser charge of third-degree murder would be based on the argument that Mr Zimmerman committed child abuse against Martin, who was a minor. |
| "Oh my God," defence lawyer Don West told the judge. "Just when I thought this case couldn't get any more bizarre, the state is seeking third-degree murder based on child abuse." | "Oh my God," defence lawyer Don West told the judge. "Just when I thought this case couldn't get any more bizarre, the state is seeking third-degree murder based on child abuse." |
| The defence said the jury should consider only a second-degree murder conviction or acquittal. | The defence said the jury should consider only a second-degree murder conviction or acquittal. |
| Mr Zimmerman could face life in prison if he is convicted on the initial charge of murder. | Mr Zimmerman could face life in prison if he is convicted on the initial charge of murder. |
| If convicted for manslaughter he could face a maximum sentence of 30 years in jail. | If convicted for manslaughter he could face a maximum sentence of 30 years in jail. |
| Earlier in the trial the jury heard from both the defendant's parents, who testified that screams heard in the background of an emergency call were those of Mr Zimmerman. | Earlier in the trial the jury heard from both the defendant's parents, who testified that screams heard in the background of an emergency call were those of Mr Zimmerman. |
| But Martin's mother told the court she was "absolutely" certain it was her son crying for help. | But Martin's mother told the court she was "absolutely" certain it was her son crying for help. |
| Prosecutors had said during opening statements that Mr Zimmerman shot Martin "because he wanted to", after profiling the teenager. | Prosecutors had said during opening statements that Mr Zimmerman shot Martin "because he wanted to", after profiling the teenager. |
| The trial has reportedly taken an emotional toll on both the defendant and the victim's family. | The trial has reportedly taken an emotional toll on both the defendant and the victim's family. |
| Defence lawyers said Mr Zimmerman was very worried about the verdict and feared for his personal safety in the future. | Defence lawyers said Mr Zimmerman was very worried about the verdict and feared for his personal safety in the future. |