Local

Zimmerman's attorneys win access to Trayvon Martin's social media accounts

SANFORD, Fla. — Both sides in the case against George Zimmerman claimed small victories in court Friday.

George Zimmerman nearly went unnoticed as he walked straight into the Seminole County courthouse.

His attorneys wanted him in court as they fought to get Trayvon Martin's school records, cellphone records and a subpoena to get access to the teenager's Facebook and Twitter accounts.

"What he said on Twitter and what he said in his Facebook and pictures, he put in his Facebook, some of which I can show you if you wanted to see them, and his behavior, what videos are out there on the internet of MMA-style (mixed martial arts) fighting. All of that information is going to become relevant," Zimmerman's attorney, Mark O'Mara, told the judge.

Martin's parents begged the court before the hearing to protect the records.

"As human beings that our first priority shouldn't be to assassinate character of the victims," said Tracy Martin, father of Trayvon Martin.

But Zimmerman's attorneys say they believe the records will show Martin has a history of being aggressive.

Zimmerman, who shot and killed Martin last February, claims he killed Martin in  self-defense after the teenager beat him up.

Prosecutors said if that's the case, they want Zimmerman's full medical history.

Judge Debra Nelson agreed to give up a subpoena for that but said she won't turn it over to prosecutors until she reviews the records first.

"The medical records that I see indicate that he may have a broken nose, and there's no X-rays. There's nothing to indicate that he had that. There's no evidence consistent with the defendant's allegation that his head was bashed into the concrete. There's no concussion," said prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda

Martin's parents insisted on Friday that they're not trying to hide anything in his school records.

The judge also gave the defense permission to subpoena social media records for Trayvon Martin's friend who said she was on the phone with him before the shooting.

Zimmerman's attorneys have questioned her story.

A motion filed late today also asks the judge to stop prosecutors from talking to any more witnesses before Zimmerman's attorneys get a chance to depose them.
The next hearing in this case is in November, when the judge will also talk about a gag order.