A judge in Florida has ruled that George Zimmerman’s attorneys cannot use Trayvon Martin’s social media postings, his suspension records, and a toxicology report showing the presence of marijuana during the trial next month.
In a Tuesday hearing, Judge Debra Nelson sided mostly with state prosecutors on conditions for opening statements and presentable evidence in Zimmerman’s highly-anticipated second-degree murder trial, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
Zimmerman’s lead attorney, Mark O’Mara, wanted to use text messages, Facebook posts and other evidence to establish Martin as the aggressor in a fatal scuffle between the teen and his client.
Zimmerman, a volunteer watch captain in the gated-community where he shot 17-year-old Martin last February, has maintained the shooting was self-defense.
The trial is slated to begin on June 10, despite repeated requests by the defense for a delay. A later hearing will determine whether the jury will be sequestered during the trial.