The man charged with murdering Trayvon Martin waived his right to a hearing under Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law and will likely begin his trial this summer.
George Zimmerman, 29, could have opted for a self-defense immunity hearing under the Stand Your Ground law. If he had done so, a judge would have overheard his case without a jury, and he could have been cleared of the murder charge.
Zimmerman told the judge he understood the state's self-defense laws, but he preferred to have his case heard before a jury.
Zimmerman faces a second-degree murder charge in the Feb. 26, 2012 shooting of the 17-year-old Martin in a gated community where he served as a neighborhood watch volunteer.
Martin's family accused Zimmerman of profiling and murdering Martin, while Zimmerman argued he shot Martin in self-defense.
The trial is scheduled to begin on June 10.
