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Thursday, 20 June 2013

6 women chosen as jurors in George Zimmerman trial

Judge Debra Nelson announces the six jurors selected for George Zimmerman's second degree murder trial.

Six women were selected Thursday to serve on the Florida jury that will decide if George Zimmerman is guilty of second degree murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.

The jurors five of them white and one who is black or Hispanic according to prosecutors were identified in court only by number on the ninth day of selection.

Four alternates two men and two women were also chosen.

The panel will be sequestered during the trial which will begin with opening statements Monday at 9 a.m. and is expected to last between two and four weeks.

Gary W. Green / Pool via Getty Images

Flanked by his defense counsel Don West left and jury consultant Robert Hirschhorn George Zimmerman stands as potential jurors enter the courtroom for his trial in Seminole circuit court on June 20 in Sanford Fla.

Zimmerman 29 has pleaded not guilty to second degree murder and says he shot Martin 17 in self defense after the unarmed teen attacked him during a confrontation in Sanford Fla. on Feb. 26 2012.

Jury selection began June 10. By Wednesday the pool had been winnowed to 40 potential jurors who were asked about crime guns self defense reasonable doubt and other topics by prosecutors and defense lawyers.

The fact that the final six are all women should not be a major factor in the outcome of the trial legal analyst Kendall Coffey told NBC News.

But the to the extent it tilts either way the prosecution should not be unhappy about an all women jury he said.

He said that in general women s attitudes about guns and people engaging in confrontations instead of relying on authorities might favor the prosecution s argument that Zimmerman was in the wrong.

And in a perfect world the prosecution would want to see a jury of mothers Coffey said.

Zimmerman defense lawyer Mark O'Mara said he didn't have a strong opinion on the gender make up of the jury.

The one thing I am certain about with juries is I will never be able to tell what they're thinking O'Mara said in a press conference after the selection was made. So six women three men three women I don't think that it really matters.

Related Meet the Zimmerman jury

Editor s note George Zimmerman has sued NBCUniversal for defamation. The company has strongly denied his allegations.

George Zimmerman who is facing second degree murder charges in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin has pleaded not guilty claiming self defense. NBC's Brian Williams reports.

This story was originally published on Thu Jun 20 2013 8 03 PM EDT

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