George Zimmerman did not appear in court for Tuesday’s arraignment and instead a written plea of “not guilty” was submitted on his behalf, while attorneys waived his right to a speedy trial.

The defense "needs additional time to prepare,” explained Mark O’Mara in a message to Judge Kenneth Lester in the Seminole County, Florida courtroom, reported the Orlando Sentinel.

A puppy who was plucked from the front lines in war torn Afghanistan and tucked safely in a backpack will soon be reunited with the soldier who saved his life.

The floppy-eared grey and white pup crawled into the heart of thousands of Americans when an iconic photo of him appeared on the cover of Army Life magazine last year, with his head poking out sleepily from Donny Eslinger's backpack.

Eslinger, of Seminole County, Florida, was serving in Afghanistan last August when he rescued Smoke, who quickly became a morale booster when a member of Donny's company was killed the next day, reported the Orlando Sentinel.