Tuesday, February 05, 2013

Trayvon Martin's 18th Birthday Today

February 5, 2013--Lawyers for George Zimmerman and prosecutors are back in court to discuss evidence and a trial date.

The teen was killed last February in Sanford, Florida, in a gated community.

Community healing and memorial events are planned this week in honor of the teen.

Zimmerman, an off-duty neighborhood watch volunteer, is charged in Trayvon's death.

Lawyers for Zimmerman are back in court to discuss evidence and an attempt to push back a scheduled June 10 trial date.

Meanwhile, Trayvon's family and local leaders have planned community healing and memorial events this week in honor of the teen whose shooting death sparked national debates about race, gun laws, and the meaning of self-defense.

Zimmerman is facing a second-degree murder charge in the Feb. 26 shooting of then 17-year-old Martin.

He is claiming self-defense. Trayvon's family argues the young man was profiled, pursued, and murdered.

"We're four months away from trial," Nelson, the prosecutor, said. "The court has no reason to continue the case."

Nelson approved a motion by Zimmerman's lawyer to subpoena credit card sales records from the 7-Eleven Trayvon visited the night he was killed.

To mark Trayvon's birthday, community leaders in Sanford are hosting a "Banding Together for Peace" program Tuesday to recognize the need for community healing and solidarity.

The event, held in Goldsboro, a historically black part of the city, includes the Sanford Police Department, the NAACP, local city officials, and Benjamin Crump, an attorney for Trayvon's family.

On Saturday, in Miami, where Trayvon lived, an event dubbed the "I am Trayvon, Day of Remembrance Peace Walk" will feature motivational speakers, entertainers, and free food.

On Sunday, The Trayvon Martin Foundation, set up by the teen's parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, will host a fund raising dinner with several guests including Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.

Trayvon's death and the murder case against Zimmerman has remained a topic of public interest as court hearings continue.

Zimmerman remains free on $1 million bond--with GPS monitoring-- while awaiting trial.