Judge in Zimmerman trial rules jurors can know Trayvon Martin had pot in his system

The judge in George Zimmerman's murder trial has ruled that jurors can know that Trayvon Martin had smoked marijuana when he was shot and killed in a gated community in Florida last year.

Judge Debra Nelson denied a motion by prosecutors to keep from the jury toxicology results showing THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, in Martin's system, Fox News reported.

Zimmerman's lawyers can now argue that the drug may have influenced the teen's behavior. They have already noted that Zimmerman told the 911 dispatcher that the person he was observing in his Sanford, Florida, community appeared to be "on drugs."

Martin had been visiting friends in the gated community and left their house to visit a convenience store, where he bought candy and a soft drink.

Judge Debra S. Nelson, who had earlier denied the defense request, rejected a prosecution argument that evidence about Martin's drug use would be prejudicial.

She made the key ruling to allow it out of the presence of the jury, having dismissed them following a day of conflicting testimony about whose voice could be heard screaming on a subsequent 911 tape.

According to the Associated Press, Martin's father contradicted police officers' earlier testimony that he had denied it was his son's voice screaming for help on a 911 call.

Tracy Martin testified that he in fact told officers he at first couldn't tell if it was his son on the audio of a fight between Martin and Zimmerman.

"I never said that wasn't my son's voice," he said, adding that he later concluded that it was his son.

Lawyers on both sides are seeking to convince jurors of who was the aggressor in the on Feb. 26, 2012, confrontation that left Martin dead.

Many of Zimmerman's friends have said they recognized the neighborhood watch volunteer's voice.