Zimmerman jury begins second day of deliberations (VIDEO)

The fate of George Zimmerman is back in the hands of jurors as they returned to deliberate his fate in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

The all-female jury deliberated for about three and a half hours Friday before recessing for the night.

More from GlobalPost: Jurors adjourn for the day, no verdict yet in Zimmerman case

They reconvened in the courtroom Saturday morning. A few smiled as the judge addressed them before leaving to continue their discussions.

Zimmerman, 29, is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting of the unarmed Martin on Feb. 26, 2012, in Sanford, Fla. The former neighborhood watch volunteer has claimed he shot Martin in self-defense and alleges the black teenager attacked him.

Prosecutors argue Zimmerman profiled, tracked and deliberately shot Martin because of his race.

Jurors can now also consider lesser charges of manslaughter in the case.

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They got the case Friday afternoon following two weeks of contentious testimony and emotional closing arguments from both sides.

Meanwhile, authorities in Florida braced for the possibility of race-fueled riots following a verdict.

Shortly after the case went to the jury, Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith and Seminole County Sheriff Donald Eslinger held a press conference urging calm no matter what the jury decides.

 "We will not tolerate anyone who uses this verdict as an excuse to violate the law," Eslinger warned.