SANFORD, Florida -- George Zimmerman was acquitted of all charges for the fatal shooting of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin in this central Florida town in February of last year.
If he had been convicted, the 29-year-old former neighborhood watch volunteer, who claimed he acted in self-defense, could have been sentenced to life in prison for second-degree murder or up to 30 years for manslaughter.
A panel of six women jurors rendered its verdict in the case, which sparked a national debate on issues including race and profiling, after a trial that began in Seminole County court on June 10. George Zimmerman has been found not guilty in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.
The panel of six women, sequestered since the trial began last month had to decide among second-degree murder, manslaughter or acquittal for Zimmerman, who says he shot the teen in self-defense. The jury must reach a unanimous verdict of second-degree murder, manslaughter or acquittal for Zimmerman, who says he shot the 17-year-old in self-defense.
Zimmerman, 29, claimed Martin attacked him on the rainy night of February 26, 2012, in the central Florida town of Sanford, where Zimmerman was a neighborhood watch coordinator in his gated community.
The jury had to reach a unanimous verdict, heard 12 days of testimony and two days of closing arguments under Seminole County Judge Debra Nelson.
The panel deliberated more than three hours on Friday and began again on Saturday morning. On Friday, the jurors asked the judge for a full inventory of evidence in the case.The six women worked through lunch on Saturday.
The case started on the night in February when Zimmerman called police to report a suspicious person, who was Martin, and a fight broke out between the two.
Zimmerman suffered several head injuries in the tussle, which ended when he shot Martin once through the heart with a Kel Tec 9 mm pistol fully loaded with hollow-point bullets.
Police initially declined to arrest Zimmerman, believing his account of self-defense. That provoked demonstrations, which spread nationwide, accusing Zimmerman of racial profiling and demanding his arrest. He was charged with second-degree murder 45 days after the shooting.
The case drew the attention of President Barack Obama, who said, "If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon." Local Sanford police said they did not expect violence after the verdict but were prepared for any eventuality.
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