George Zimmerman, Trayvon Martin (creative commons)

READ MORE: Opening Statements Made In George Zimmerman Trial 

The murder originally took place in February 2012, but July 10th, 2013 is when the defense finally rested its case.

It was during this defense that Zimmerman butted heads with the judge of the case over whether or not he would testify at all.

From The Daily Beast: 

“In the testiest of testy exchanges, which have been peppered through the nearly three-week trial in Sanford, Florida, amid a series of pro-state rulings by Judge Debra Nelson, spectators were left gulping as defense co-counsel Don West repeatedly challenged Nelson’s decision to press Zimmerman for a clear answer. The judge repeatedly slapped him down, her voice gathering volume every time.”

While the court persisted in asking Zimmerman whether he would decide on testifying during the trial, Zimmerman’s defense would object to the question, only to be overruled each time.

The case was originally believed to have been a simple in and out type ruling, yet with more evidence and time passing, the situation has gotten more complex.  George Zimmerman was known as the neighborhood watch leader in his hometown in Florida, and pleaded his case in self-defense. 

In a quote from CNN “’This case is a perfect storm,’ says Xavier Donaldson, a defense attorney and former prosecutor in New York. "You have to look at the nature of the case and the racial, political and social economics of the defendant and accused. You have a young black kid, walking with a sweatshirt on and some guy, who wants to be a cop, assumes he's a criminal and shoots him dead." Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder.”

READ MORE: Zimmerman Won't Use 'Stand Your Ground' Law Before Trial

In the case’s final hours for the defense, Zimmerman’s tactics became more focused on his good deeds and his own strength in defending his neighborhood. The people who testified were his father and a resident of his gated community.

Olivia Bertlan claimed to have been robbed while she was at home with her son, six months before the murder. She told the court that Zimmerman offered moral and financial support in her time of need.

Closing arguments are expected to come later in the week.

Read more on the case here.

Reach Executive Producer Eric Parra here.