Jury weighing George Zimmerman fate begins 2nd day of deliberations

SANFORD, Fla. -- Six women return to a Florida courtroom on Saturday morning to begin their first full day deliberating the future of George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer who is charged with murdering Trayvon Martin, an unarmed teenager.

The jury deliberated for about 3 1/2 hours on Friday before breaking for the night. Jurors will return to the courtroom at 9 a.m. to resume their effort to reach a unanimous verdict.

Zimmerman, 29, is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting of Martin, 17, on Feb. 26, 2012, in Sanford. Zimmerman has always maintained that he shot Martin in self-defense and alleges the teenager attacked him.

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The prosecution argues that Zimmerman profiled, tracked and deliberately shot Martin, who was returning from a convenience store after buying candy and a soft drink.

During the first hours of deliberations on Friday, the jurors asked for and received an inventory of evidence.

Besides the murder charge, the jury can also consider a manslaughter charge, which is considered a lesser count because it has a lower standard of proof. Conviction on second-degree murder requires the jury to believe that Zimmerman acted with ill will, hatred or spite.

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Second-degree murder caries a punishment of 25 years to life, and the lesser charge can have a sentence of decades in prison.

Police officials have urged the city to be calm when the verdict is reached in the case, which prompted local and national demonstrations by civil rights leaders. Martin is African American and Zimmerman is of Latino heritage.

The jury received the case after lunch on Friday.

Proceedings began with jury selection June 10. More than 55 witnesses testified.

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