Looks like George Zimmerman is having a few last-minute, albeit lesser, charges tacked on in his murder trial. The jury will be instructed to consider manslaughter in addition to second-degree murder, Judge Debra Nelson ruled today, amidst a pitched battle over jury instructions, HLN reports. Prosecutors want to throw third-degree murder into the mix as well, a move the defense team is contesting. Prosecutors have dropped their attempt to add aggravated assault.
"Just when I thought this case couldn't get anymore bizarre. The state is seeking third-degree murder based on child abuse," defense attorney Donald West complained. "Is the court going to give this any serious contention or consideration?" He called the prosecution's gambit a "trick." He also called the prosecution's definition of "justifiable use of deadly force" a trick, at which point Nelson told him to stop calling things tricks. The hearing comes ahead of closing arguments. (More George Zimmerman stories.)
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