America erupts as George Zimmerman is found not guilty of the murder or manslaughter of Trayvon Martin in race case that divided a nation.

A man has been found not guilty of murdering a teenager in a case that has gripped and divided America.
George Zimmerman, 29, was acquitted of second-degree murder and manslaughter in the shooting death of 17 year old Trayvon Benjamin Martin.
A jury of six women took more than 16 hours and 20 minutes to come to come to their unanimous decision that the death was justifiable.
Zimmerman, who was a neighbourhood watch volunteer, was charged with second-degree murder for fatally shooting Martin on February 26, 2012.
The court was told that he had followed the unarmed youngster through a park because he looked like he was 'up to no good.'
Zimmerman, a volunteer neighbourhood watchman, claims he shot Martin in self-defence, and that the teen punched him repeatedly before deciding to use lethal force.

Supporters of Trayvon Martin say the verdict is a slap in the face for the American people.

Immunity will be sought if attempt to sue Zimmerman is made.The first words in the trial, from state attorney John Guy, had been: 'F***ing punks, these a**holes always get away,' words that were repeated to the jury several times in the three weeks of testimony.

Words, they said, that proved Zimmerman acted with ill will, spite and hatred when he followed Trayvon as he was walking home from a 7/11 and, after a scuffle, shot him through the heart.
They portrayed Zimmerman as a 'vigilante', a 'wannabe cop', a man filled with hatred and frustration after a spate of burglaries in the community he felt he was responsible for protecting.

On Friday, the prosecution appealed to the emotions and the hearts of the all-women jury and in a powerful rebuttal, John Guy said: 'Trayvon Martin was a son, a brother and a friend and the last thing he did on this Earth was to try to get home.
'George Zimmerman didn't shoot the teen because he had to, he shot him because he wanted to,' repeating words he used in his opening statement.

The race element could become the legacy of the trial. Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed responded to the verdict by saying: 'The death of Trayvon Martin shows that we must all work harder to shed the dangerous stereotypes that can have devastating consequences for individuals, families and our society.'
Celebrities from Will.i.am to Miley Cyrus also took to Twitter to announce their shock at the verdict.
Will.i.am tweeted: 'What’s wrong with the world mama!!! #whereIStheLOVE #zimmermanVSamerica.'
Sophia Bush added: 'The wind is more than knocked out of me… My heart aches for this boy’s family. Justice System? I don’t think so,' and Miley Cyrus tweeted to say the verdict made her 'feel sick'.
Others, including Wyclef Jean and Mandy Moore extended their sympathies to Trayvon's family and friends. 
A tweet from Jesse Williams however, read: 'Verdict emblematic of a culture rooted in bloodthirsty cowardice.'