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Trayvon's Twitter, Facebook subpoenaed

STANFORD, Fla., March 7 (UPI) -- The Florida judge presiding over the George Zimmerman murder trial has signed a subpoena for Trayvon Martin's Twitter and Facebook information.

The subpoena, signed Monday by Circuit Judge Debra S. Nelson, directs Twitter and Facebook to release to defense attorneys all of Trayvon Martin's posted comments, photos, videos and messages plus his list of Facebook friends, the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel reported.

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Nelson also signed a similar subpoena fora Miami teenage girl who was on the phone with Trayvon moments before Zimmerman shot him and is a witness in the trial.

The judge agreed to sign the subpoenas months ago after defense attorneys argued that they should have access to the information.

It was discovered Tuesday at an evidence hearing that the witness lied about her age when she first gave a statement to Martin's family attorney, Benjamin Crump, the newspaper reported.

She initially told Crump that she was 16, but it was later found out that she was 18 at the time of Martin's shooting.

Prosecutors did not say whether they would pursue perjury charges against the witness.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, lawyers for Zimmerman said they will forgo a "stand your ground" hearing to determine whether or not Zimmerman acted in self defense when he shot Martin, the Orlando Sentinel said.

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Nelson did not question defense attorney Mark O'Mara's reasoning for passing on the hearing.

But, O'Mara said: "Our real focus is getting ready for the trial."

Zimmerman wants to face a jury of his peers, O'Mara said.

"There's only time for one hearing, and that's a jury trial. ... We have precious little time," the lawyer said.

Zimmerman, a 29-year-old former Neighborhood Watch volunteer, is charged with second-degree murder for the shooting death of Martin, 17, on Feb. 26, 2012.

Zimmerman claimed that he acted in self defense when he shot Martin, who was walking home from a convenience store at the time of the altercation.

The defendant faces life in prison if convicted. The trial is scheduled to begin June 10.

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