Trayvon Martin case: Autopsy, crime scene photos to be released
George Zimmerman seen here after his arrest on April 11, 2012. Zimmerman’s arrest follows weeks of anger and debate throughout the country in response to the murder of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman’s attorney said his client would plead not guilty and invoke Florida’s “stand your ground” law, which gives people wide latitude to use deadly force rather than retreat during a fight.
A Florida judge on Wednesday ordered the release of crime scene photos, an autopsy report and other materials in the Trayvon Martin case.
Prosecutors have 15 days to comply with the order by Judge Kenneth Lester, the New York Daily News reported.
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Neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman, 28, faces second-degree murder charges in the February shooting of Martin, who was unarmed, in a gated community in Sanford, Fla. Zimmerman has maintained he shot the 17-year-old in self-defense.
Along with the autopsy report and crime scene photos, Lester also ordered the release of Zimmerman's statements to police, his calls to 911 and Sanford police, emails to Sanford police about the case, emails from witnesses to Sanford police and transcripts of Zimmerman's jailhouse phone calls, according to USA Today.
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No witness names will be released, nor will any photos of Martin's body, USA Today reported.
The ruling comes one day after Zimmerman's wife, Shellie, was arrested on charges of lying to the judge about her husband's finances.
Zimmerman's attorney, Mark O'Mara, told ABC News that his client is worried about his wife's safety now that her mugshot has been publicized by the media.
“Certainly now that she’s been charged with a crime he’s worried about her, and also worried now that she’s out in the public eye,” O'Mara said.
George Zimmerman is due back in court for a bond hearing June 29.
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