SANFORD, Florida (AP) — A judge has ruled that attorneys for a Florida neighbourhood watch volunteer can inspect the school records and social media postings of the unarmed teenager he is accused of murdering.

Judge Debra S Nelson said Friday that defendant George Zimmerman's attorneys needed to know whether Trayvon Martin's school records and social media postings give any evidence that he had violent tendencies.

The 29-year-old Zimmerman fatally shot the 17-year-old Martin in February. Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, saying he shot Martin in self-defense.

Nelson said she is reviewing Zimmerman's medical records to see if they should be turned over to prosecutors. Nelson set another hearing for October 26.

The judge has scheduled Zimmerman's trial for next June. A hearing on Zimmerman's self-defense claim has not been scheduled.