Trayvon Martin case: Zimmerman pleads not guilty
George Zimmerman takes the stand during his bond hearing for the shooting death of Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida on Apr. 20, 2012. He has since entered a plea of not guilty.
The Florida neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman has filed a plea of not guilty to charges of second degree murder over the shooting of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin.
According to Associated Press, Zimmerman entered the plea just hours after being released on US$150,000 bail.
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The news agency quotes from a court document which reads: "The defendant, by and through his undersigned attorney, enters a written plea of not guilty to the charges now pending against him," and says it waives Zimmerman's right to appear at his arraignment on May 8.
Meanwhile, city commissioners in Sanford, Florida, rejected the proposed resignation of Police Chief Bill Lee over claims he failed to arrest Zimmerman on the night of the shooting, CNN reports.
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Lee has been on paid leave since the the commission expressed a lack of confidence in him on March 21.
However, the BBC says that city officials voter 3-2 to block Lee's resignation, which was tendered on Monday, the same day that Zimmerman was released on bail.
According to Reuters, Zimmerman, who is white and Hispanic, has said he shot Martin in self-defense, explaining that police initially declined to arrest Zimmerman under Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law, which allows people to use deadly force when they believe their life is in danger.
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