Exhausted defense lawyers in Zimmerman case plead with judge to cut their hours in the courtroom
Updated: Defense lawyers in the George Zimmerman trial complained of exhaustion and said they needed time to prepare witnesses after a more than 12-hour day in court on Tuesday.
As the court was recessing just before 10 p.m., attorney Mark O’Mara pleaded for more time before resuming the second-degree murder trial against his client in the slaying of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin. But when he pointed out “we’ve been working very long hours,” Seminole County Circuit Judge Debra Nelson shot back “So have I!” and noted that the court had recessed, reports the Miami Herald.
When his fellow defense attorney Don West told the judge “I don’t think I can physically keep up this pace much longer … weekend depositions and at night,” she packed up her belongings and left the bench carrying a full load of paperwork. He continued talking as she exited, the newspaper says.
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel provides a link to a video of the incident.
Court is to resume at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.
Updated at 10 a.m. to include Sun-Sentinel coverage.
