'The Show': How the George Zimmerman trial turned into spectator sport

Vacationers sit in on trial

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SANFORD, Fla. – A couple vacationing in Central Florida sat in on jury selection Tuesday during the George Zimmerman trial.

"We are on a five-month long RV trip," said Suzanne Hogsett, who was with her husband, Jerry. "We've heard of Sanford, Florida, and we were fascinated by this case."

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SPECIAL SECTION: George Zimmerman trial

"There [are] some really sticky legal questions -- whether it was self-defense or whether it was murder," said Jerry Hogsett, of Palm Springs, California.

"We always wondered why it took so long. They really want to make sure that they are getting people who are unbiased," said . "I think it's a privilege that people care enough to take so long."

High-profile trials like this one become a sort of spectator sport. Some choose to watch jury selection live on Local10.com, while others tune into our courtroom tweets, to include @khingchadwick, who told Christina Vazquez on Twitter, "I am following yr trial updates all the way frm New Zealand with keen interest."

Even defense attorney Don West had a slip of the tongue during questioning.

"You had mentioned seeing a newscast or something about this show -- about this case," he said.

Author Jack Cashill, of Missouri, is writing a book about the case.

"I thought it would be useful to come down and pick up some atmospherics," he said.

Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, saying it was in self-defense.


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