George Zimmerman trial: Judge denies prosecution request to strike witness testimony

(CBS) SANFORD, Fla. --A judge in the case of suspected murderer George Zimmerman has denied a prosecution request to strike testimony of a friend of Zimmerman who said he heard the former neighborhood watch captain screaming in the background of a 911 call.

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Prosecutors said John Donnelly was apparently in the courtroom during the trial several weeks before he testified, a violation of witness sequestration rules. A judge ruled against the request to strike his testimony after a defense attorney said he didn't know about the rule.

"On one hand the court is very very, very, very, very concerned -- that's four 'very's' for those who want to know -- about the rule of sequestration and the witnesses and counsel abiding by them, the question becomes whether the witness themselves had knowledge. I do not believe Mr. Donnelly had the knowledge because it was relayed to the court he was not specifically told," Judge Debra Nelson said.

The defense rested its case after nearly three days of testimony Wednesday, and Zimmerman said he would not testify on his own behalf. The former neighborhood watch captain is accused in the shooting death of Florida teen Trayvon Martin.

Closing arguments will launch at 1 p.m. Thursday, Nelson said before court recessed for the day. Attorneys will need to finalize jury instructions first.

The arguments will continue Friday, when the case is expected to go to the jury.

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