Martin family marks Trayvon's birthday

• Tweet

SANFORD, Fla., Feb. 5 (UPI) -- On what would have been Florida shooting victim Trayvon Martin's 18th birthday Tuesday, his shooter's case returns to court to consider a trial delay request.

Martin's family announced several events would be conducted through the foundation they formed in their son's name, including the recitation of a prayer and the singing of "Happy Birthday" before the hearing begins, the Orlando Sentinel reported

During the evening, the Goldsboro Welcome Center on Historic Goldsboro Boulevard in Sanford will host "Banding Together for Peace Against Gun Violence."

"For his family, it's tough when it comes to his birthday and how to deal with it," said Benjamin Crump, an attorney for Martin's family. "As well as coming up in a couple of weeks. ... the anniversary of the tragedy."

Feb. 26 is the anniversary of the shooting death of Martin, an unarmed black teen, by George Zimmerman, a Hispanic American who said the shooting was justified under Florida's stand your ground law. Prosecutors said Zimmerman profiled, pursued and killed the 17-year-old in Sanford. The defense said Martin attacked Zimmerman.

Martin's parents won't attend Tuesday's hearing on the defense request to delay the trial, Crump said.

Zimmerman's attorneys also will discuss their request for additional materials they say they must have before trial, including biographies of Martin, his family and key witnesses compiled by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, including criminal records, the Sentinel said.

Among other things, the defense team wants ABC News to turn over recordings or notes from an interview by one of its Florida affiliates with a witness who said she was on the phone with Martin just before the shooting.

The defense also wants the judge's permission to subpoena 7-Eleven for purchase records from the night of the shooting. Martin shopped there before encountering Zimmerman.