George Zimmerman was formally arraigned in Sanford Tuesday afternoon on a second-degree murder charge in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, though he did not appear in court.



Zimmerman, who remains free after posting $150,000 bond, did not attend the Tuesday hearing. His attorney, Mark O'Mara, filed a written plea of not guilty and waived Zimmerman's appearance at the arraignment.

On Tuesday, O'Mara also filed a motion to continue the case and a waiver of a speedy trial.

Judge Kenneth Lester Jr. accepted Zimmerman's plea. A trial date could be set at a hearing Aug. 8.



Zimmerman, 28, has said he was acting in self-defense in the Feb. 26 shooting of Martin, 17, in a Sanford gated community.



Authorities didn't charge Zimmerman in the shooting of the Miami Gardens teen for over six weeks, sparking national protests led by Martin's parents and civil rights groups.



Zimmerman is at an undisclosed location but is being monitored by authorities with a GPS device. He has surrendered his passport and must observe a 7 p.m.-to-6 a.m. curfew under the terms of his release.