13 Jul 2013

Zimmerman jury ends first day

1:53 pm on 13 July 2013

Jurors in the Zimmerman trial in Florida ended their first day of deliberations on Friday without reaching a verdict.

George Zimmerman, 29, is accused of second-degree murder in the shooting of Trayvon Martin, 17, on 26 February, 2012.

Prosecutors say the accused was a 'wannabe cop' who shot the unarmed black teenager without justification, but he says it was self-defense.

After presiding over 12 days of testimony and two days of closing arguments, Seminole County Judge Debra Nelson turned the case over to the jury of six women on Friday. They broke for the day without reaching a verdict.

The jury will resume deliberations on Saturday.