Judge Tells Zimmerman Jurors: 'If You Have a Specific [Manslaughter] Question, Please Submit It' (UPDATED)

SANFORD, Fla. (TheBlaze/AP) -- After jurors in the George Zimmerman trial sent Judge Debra Nelson a note asking for clarification on the manslaughter charge Saturday, Nelson sent a note back telling the jurors if they have a specific question to submit it.

They also asked for dinner, an apparent sign they planned to deliberate for at least an hour or more beyond the eight hours they already had put in during their second day.

George Zimmerman arrives in the courtroom for his trial at the Seminole County Criminal Justice Center, in Sanford, Fla., Friday, July 12, 2013. Zimmerman is charged in the 2012 shooting death of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin. (Credit: AP)

USA Today noted:

At about 6 p.m. ET lawyers for both sides appeared in court where Judge Debra Nelson said jurors had the manslaughter question. The lawyers approached the bench to talk to the judge.

The jury was not in the courtroom. Nelson then adjourned the courtroom for 30 minutes.

When attorneys returned, prosecutor Richard Mantei said that after conducting research, he would suggest asking the jurors to elaborate. Defense attorney Mark O'Mara agreed.

"Let's get clarification on their confusion," O'Mara said.

The judge then sent a note back to the jury that read: "The court can't engage in general discussion but may be able to address a specific question regarding clarification of the instructions regarding manslaughter. If you have a specific question, please submit it."

A manslaughter verdict would mean jurors rejected Zimmerman's claim he killed in self defense and "intentionally committed an act or acts that caused the death" of Martin, according to Florida's definition of the charge, USA Today added.

The six female jurors began deliberating Friday afternoon on whether Zimmerman committed a crime when he fatally shot Trayvon Martin.

Zimmerman is pleading not guilty to second-degree murder. He claims he shot the 17-year-old Martin in self-defense.

Zimmerman, 29, has claimed self-defense in the February 2012 confrontation in a gated community where Martin was visiting his father and father's fiancee.

Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder, but the jury also is allowed to consider manslaughter.

The judge's decision to allow that consideration was a potential blow to the defense: It could give jurors who aren't convinced the shooting amounted to murder a way to hold Zimmerman responsible for the killing.

To win a manslaughter conviction, prosecutors must show only that Zimmerman killed without lawful justification.

Zimmerman faces a maximum prison sentence of life for second-degree murder and 30 years if convicted of manslaughter, due to extra sentencing guidelines for committing a crime with a gun.

The sequestered jury of six women must sort through conflicting testimony from police, neighbors, friends and family members.

Jurors deliberated for three and a half hours when they decided to stop Friday evening. They reconvened Saturday morning, deliberated for three hours and then broke for lunch. They resumed their discussions about 1 p.m. Saturday. Jurors are being sequestered, and their identities are kept anonymous - they are identified only by number.

Police and civic leaders have pleaded for calm in Sanford and across the country after the verdict.

"There is no party in this case who wants to see any violence," Seminole County Sheriff Don Eslinger said. "We have an expectation upon this announcement that our community will continue to act peacefully."

In New York on Saturday, the Rev. Al Sharpton said that no matter the verdict, any demonstrations that follow it must be peaceful.

"We do not want to smear Trayvon Martin's name with violence," the civil rights leader said. "He is a victim of violence."

The Rev. Jesse Jackson had a similar message. He tweeted that people should "avoid violence because it only leads to more tragedies."

Benjamin Crump, an attorney for Martin's family, said the parents are emotional but doing as well as expected as they await a verdict.

"(Jurors) staying out longer and considering the evidence and testimony is a good thing for us arriving at a just verdict," Crump said.

On Saturday morning, Martin's mother, Sybrina Fulton, shared on Twitter what she called her favorite Bible verse: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

This is a developing story. Updates will be added.