Seminole County Sheriff`s Office(ORLANDO, Fla.) -- George Zimmerman was a no-show in a Florida court Tuesday as his lawyer entered a plea of not guilty to second-degree murder in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
His expected absence came as Zimmerman's attorney waived his right to a speedy trial, saying he "needs additional time to prepare" for the high-profile case.
In Florida, a defendant is entitled a trial within 175 days of being charged, but Zimmerman's attorney, Mark O'Mara, has told ABC News he would try to prolong the process to allow racial tensions and the emotion associated with the case to subside.
Zimmerman, a self-appointed neighborhood watch captain in Sanford, Fla., will be tried for the Feb. 26 shooting death of Martin. He could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted.
Zimmerman, 28, remains in hiding and free on bail, but his whereabouts are being monitored by authorities through a GPS ankle device.
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