Closing arguments in George Zimmerman trial to start Thursday

Defense rests; Zimmerman charged in Trayvon Martin's death

SANFORD, Fla. – Prosecutors will make closing arguments in the George Zimmerman trial Thursday afternoon, with the judge scheduling the defense's closing argument Friday morning.

During opening statements, assistant state attorney John Guy would describe this case as the result of two worlds colliding.

SPECIAL SECTION: George Zimmerman Trial

With closing arguments to begin on Thursday, both of those worlds are now coming grips with the case soon being in the jury's hands.

"He's very worried. The State of Florida is trying to put him behind bars for the rest of his life," said Mark O'Mara, Zimmerman's defense attorney. "That's a very scary position to be in and he's worried."

Local 10's Christina Vazquez heard from O'Mara and spoke with Benjamin Crump, the Martins' family attorney.

Judge Debra Nelson would ask Zimmerman more than once Wednesday if he wanted to take the stand, causing him to appear unsettled.

"A big part of him wanted to get in front of the jury. It was a very difficult decision for him to make," O'Mara said. "I think that he's very worried about his safety, his personal safety moving forward because those same people portended the fear and hatred leading up to this trial are not going to accept an acquittal."

The defense fought to let jurors hear that Trayvon Martin had the active ingredient of marijuana in his system the night of the shooting, but after the judge sided with them, they rested before presenting that evidence to the jury.

"I hope that they believe that we presented the case in a way that did what he could, what we had to do to defend George zealously, but still protected the memory of the loss of a 17-year-old son of two people in that courtroom each and every day," said O'Mara.

Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton honored their late son by sitting through every day of testimony, only when autopsy photos of their son were shown to jurors would they leave the room.

"All they've asked for from the beginning of this tragedy is that the killer of their unarmed son be held accountable for getting out of his car, profiling and pursuing their son," said Crump. "They believe as I believe that the evidence is there to hold the killer of their son accountable."

If the jury doesn't agree and finds that the facts presented at the trial do not support a second-degree murder conviction, what is the Martins' message to the community?

"They are praying for peaceful justice," Crump said. "They are praying that everybody be peaceful."