George Zimmerman's defense attorneys have rested their case after taking less than a week to call 18 witnesses in Zimmerman's second-degree murder trial.

Zimmerman never took the witness stand, but jurors saw repeated video recordings of him telling his side of the story to police investigators.

Attorneys are expected to debate some items in the jury instructions starting at 9 a.m. Thursday, and closing arguments are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

Follow LIVE UPDATES from Day 22 of the trial.

The defense started its case last Friday, and it presented half as many witnesses in half of the time that prosecutors did.

The judge also made two rulings Wednesday that prevented the defense from introducing two pieces of evidence. Defense attorneys had wanted to present to jurors text messages discussing fighting from Trayvon Martin's cell phone and an animation depicting Zimmerman's fatal fight with Martin. But Judge Debra Nelson sided with prosecutors, who had argued the animation is inaccurate and the texts were irrelevant.

Rebuttal: State tries to ask gym owner about 'Zimmerman training' ad

Immediately after the defense rested, prosecutors called a rebuttal witness: Adam Pollock, the gym owner who testified Monday that he had trained Zimmerman.

Prosecutors tried to question Pollock about an advertisement on his gym's website for "George Zimmerman training." The defense quickly objected, and Pollock was dismissed without testifying further.

The online ad said: "George Zimmerman training information will be provided for those who request it after the completion of the trial."

Following rebuttal witnesses, prosecutors and defense attorneys will then work out the jury instructions before presenting closing arguments. The judge then sends the case to six jurors.

No sanctions for John Donnelly

Prosecutors also asked the judge for sanctions against one of the defense's witnesses -- John Donnelly, a friend of Zimmerman's who testified Monday.

It was discovered that Donnelly was in the courtroom for other witnesses' testimony on June 25, before he was called, himself, on July 8.

Judge Nelson, however, denied the state's motion, saying she did not believe that Donnelly's testimony that he heard Zimmerman's voice screaming for help on a 911 call from the night Trayvon Martin was shot would have changed.

Wednesday's testimony

Witnesses listed in reverse order, with the most recent witness on top.

  • Prosecution rebuttal
    • Adam Pollock, the gym owner who trained Zimmerman.
  • Defense phase
    • Robert Zimmerman Sr., George's father.
    • Olivia Bertalan, a former neighbor of George Zimmerman's whose home was broken into more than six months before the Trayvon Martin shooting.
    • Dennis Root, a law enforcement trainer and private investigator.

Robert Zimmerman Sr. is George Zimmerman's father.

Robert Zimmerman Sr., was the last witness called by the defense on Wednesday, and he said it was his son yelling for help on a 911 call that captured sounds from the fatal fight between Zimmerman and 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

Under a short cross-examination, Robert Zimmerman Sr. said he has listened to the recording at least six times.

Olivia Bertalan is a former Retreat at Twin Lakes resident.

Bertalan testified about a break-in at her home in August 2011. She said she was at home with her then-9-month-old son, when two African-American males broke in. She said she hid and the police came, and the men left, taking her camera and laptop.

One of the suspects, Emmanuel Burgess, was later arrested and charged. Bertalan said the break-in was the reason she moved out of the neighborhood.

Under cross-examination, Bertalan said George Zimmerman talked to her about the break-in, and she described the suspects to him, including the one that got away. Bertalan also confirmed that Burgess was arrested and later released before February 2012.

Bertalan said she had watched part of the trial before being called to testify, specifically last Friday, when Zimmerman's uncle testified. She also confirmed she follows defense attorney Mark O'Mara and Zimmerman's legal defense fund on Twitter. Bertalan also confirmed she appeared on the Nancy Grace show more than a year ago.

As O'Mara redirected, Bertalan said she was appreciative of Zimmerman, who made an offer to spend time with his wife during the day as Bertalan's husband went to discuss the break-in with the homeowner's association. She said Zimmerman's behavior was helpful.

Dennis Root is a public safety consultant, law enforcement trainer and private investigator.

Root testified that Trayvon Martin was in better physical shape than Zimmerman, saying the defendant "would find himself lacking when compared to Mr. Martin."

During cross-examination of Root, prosecutor John Guy used a life-sized foam mannequin in front of the jury to simulate the body positions of Zimmerman and Martin at the time of the shooting.

Straddling the dummy, Guy proposed a scenario in which Martin was on top of Zimmerman and asked Root if it was possible that Martin was backing away from Zimmerman at the time of the fatal gunshot.

"Yes," Root said.

Root also said he may have taken different actions if he were in Zimmerman's situation, but said that "it's just a matter of what you as the individual view as options."

Using the same mannequin during further questioning of Root, defense attorney Mark O'Mara challenged the notion of Martin retreating. Root said that while multiple gun angles were possible, he had no specific information to say what position Martin was in when he was shot.

"I think you're not going to be involved in a conflict like this without it being dynamic," Root said.

Martin was unarmed and returning from a store when he was fatally shot by Zimmerman during a struggle on a dark, rainy night in February 2012.

Judge bans texts, limits animation

The judge in the George Zimmerman trial has ruled that Trayvon Martin's cellphone texts on fighting and a defense animation depicting the fight between Martin and Zimmerman won't be introduced as evidence.

Judge Debra Nelson made her ruling Wednesday, on the morning after hearing arguments on the matter well into Tuesday night. She finally called for recess and walked out of the courtroom shortly after 10 p.m., as defense attorney Don West tried to continue his argument.

Prosecutors had claimed the texts were irrelevant and taken out of context. They also objected to the computer animation, questioning its accuracy and saying it would mislead jurors.

"This is a murder trial. This isn't 'Casablanca.' This isn't 'Iron Man,'" prosecutor Richard Mantei said in his argument to ban the animation from evidence.

The judge seemed concerned about the animation's accuracy during arguments. While the animation can't be introduced as evidence that can be reviewed by jurors during their deliberations, defense attorneys may be able to use it during closing arguments, she ruled.

"To have an animation go back into jury room that they can play over and over again gives a certain weight to something that this court isn't exactly certain comports with the evidence presented at trial," Nelson said Wednesday night.

The judge agreed with prosecutors' concerns about introducing the 17-year-old's text messages. But defense attorney Don West had argued the texts were relevant since they showed Martin's interest in fighting and physical capabilities.