George Zimmerman lawyer: "Fairly simple but tragic case of self-defense"

By: Anna Werner
Topics: Daily Blotter

Zimmerman's friends and family speak out

George Zimmerman

/ CBS/WFOR

(CBS) The legal team for George Zimmerman is asking the public to withhold judgment about the fatal Trayvon Martin shooting pending a grand jury review of the case that begins next Tuesday.

Pictures: Trayvon Martin shooting

Attorney Craig Sonner told 'CBS This Morning' correspondent Anna Werner, "Everyone is jumping the gun, wait, everyone wait...and then let's see what happens."

New Zimmerman lawyer Hal Uhrig told CBS News there's been too much emphasis on race in discussions surrounding the deadly Feb. 26 shooting in Sanford, Fla.

"This is not a guy who has a racial bone in his body," Uhrig said. "Take out issues of race, take out political preferences and so forth, just look at the law and what actually happened - this was a fairly simple but tragic case of self-defense."

Sonner said Zimmerman, who is staying at an undisclosed location and hasn't been seen publicly since the shooting, is "very stressed. This whole incident he has taken it very heard. He's in hiding he can't show his face anywhere because of the death threats against him."

Zimmerman's father came to his defense last night on the "Sean Hannity Show," saying his son's story will stand up to an examination.

"Ninety-five percent of the facts that have been verified by Sanford, the city of Sanford, they say that George's story is consistent with every eyewitness account and every piece of evidence that they have," Robert Zimmerman said.

Earlier this week, Benjamin Crump, the attorney for Trayvon Martin's parents, asked the justice department to investigate why the Sanford police chief and a state prosecutor apparently dismissed the recommendation of lead detective Chris Serino who wanted to arrest George Zimmerman for manslaughter.

"How was this decision made? That's all they want to know, they want the right to have answers, because right now George Zimmerman is free and their son is in a grave," Crump said.

'CBS This Morning' correspondent Anna Werner contributed this report to Crimesider.

Complete coverage of Trayvon Martin case on CBS News

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by rauckman April 10, 2012 7:13 AM EDT: I don't understand why George Zimmerman has a website for his legal defense and living expense when for years he had no income. His wife does hair and I don't see how that little income could support them living at Twin Lakes Something is not adding up about his employment history. Somebody has been supporting this deadbeat and now they want to cut him off at this great time of need. How dare they!!!; Reply to this comment


by smoky853 April 6, 2012 12:56 PM EDT: I never considered race in my opinion of this case and I don't see that everyone is jumping the gun. Many would like to see this case go to court for a jury to decide if Z acted in self defense. Well, except for team Zimmerman. I don't know if Z is a racist or not. For me it's about whether he acted in self defense. Z has been hiding since he shot Martin according to his attorney. He should have spoken out right away instead of hiding. Showed the evidence of the "severe beating" and broken nose he says he sustained. Before there were death threats. Before this was picked up by the national media. We probably wouldn't be here now if he had. Nor would there be so much speculation about what happened the night he shot Martin. Now he has his family and friends speaking for him with different versions of Z's story. They weren't there but are repeating Z's stories as if they were. They are not helping in my opinion. Also Sharpton and Jackson are not helping either. Of course team Zimmerman is going to say he acted in self defense and that the evidence will prove it. Fine if it does. I just won't take their word for it and would like to see the evidence in court. Otherwise we will never see it. Fact is if Z had stayed in his vehicle that night and waited for police Trayvon Martin would be alive.; Reply to this comment


by brotherscoe April 6, 2012 12:10 PM EDT: @Irishmob,Its called stalking! harrasing people with no proable cause.This is what racist do,they attack people who are defensless or elderly.This monster knew he had the upper hand, by having the gun.His parents should sue the police department, for giving him this CCW permit, with his violent record. He must knew someone on the deprtment,who helped him get it.That supicious claim of Trayvon was a concocted story made up by Zimmerman,that he has to go with now in order to get his lying butt out of this. Black stereotypes used by whites are being uncovered by the police more frequently,who found out white woman have killed their own loved ones and blamed it on blacks. This case is no different, once it gets to court they will find out Zimmerman lied from the very begining, Remember the accusations about Trayvon of being suspicious was based on this idiots account.When in fact any black male walking was under his evil eye, Trayvon was just his pick at that time.; Reply to this comment


by brotherscoe April 6, 2012 12:06 PM EDT: @Irishmob,Its called stalking! harrasing people with no proable cause.This is what racist do,they attack people who are defensless or elderly.This monster knew he had the upper hand, by having the gun.His parents should sue the police department, for giving him this CCW permit, with his violent record. He mut knew someone on the deprtment,who helped him get it.That supicious claim of Trayvon was a concocted story made up by Zimmerman,that he has to go with now in order to get his lying butt out of this. Black stereotypes used by whites are being uncovered by the police more frequently,who found out white woman have killed their own loved ones and blamed it on blacks. This case is no different, once it gets to court they will find out Zimmerman lied from the very begining, Remember the accusations about Trayvon of being suspiciousis was based on this idiots account.When in fact any black male walking was under his evil eye, Trayvon was just his pick at that time.; Reply to this comment


by GeorgeKafantaris April 6, 2012 11:53 AM EDT: It is time that we look at the Trayvon Martin killing for what it is -- a criminal homicide, only incidental to race. One cannot draw a much different conclusion by listening to the cries for help heard in the recorded 911 calls.
Even without them, however, it seems improbable that a confident, stocky-build man, with a gun in his holster, would need to beg for help -- notwithstanding the claims of Zimmerman, his father and his brother. Our understanding of human nature and common sense tells us that such cries would come from someone who is severely threatened and acutely aware of his imminent death.
Any doubts of this are removed by merely listening to those multiple "help, help" pleas loud enough to be picked up during the 911calls. Aside from their heart-wrenching intensity, we also note that these cries go on for over a minute. Was Zimmerman telling Martin during that time that he was about to pull the trigger? Why else would Martin need to plead for help with such desperation?
If Zimmerman was threatening to shoot Martin in those two minutes before we hear the shot, what we have then is a cold blooded murder - and by one clever enough to now use our racial divide to get away with it. We should see through this tactic and not let him do so. Not only because such defense would further divide us, but also because an unrepentant criminal would get away with murder.
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=11548279; Reply to this comment

by rayward73446 April 6, 2012 9:39 AM EDT

Zimmerman's lawyer is trying to spin the concensus in favor of his worthless client. Zimmerman folowed Martin after he was told to stop. If he wasn't armed there would not be a dead teen, and he would not be in this mess. We are all responsible for our actions and Zimmerman is no exception. If Zimmerman had avoided the confrontation with Martin, Martin would still be alive. This was a murder, and not self defence. Zimmerman's aggressive actions was the cause of this death that was clearly avoidable. How can he declare self defence when he was the aggressor?

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by irishmob April 6, 2012 10:25 AM EDT: Since when is following someone an aggressive act? You are right about everyone being responsible for their actions. Unfortunately in Florida if you assult someone you run the risk of having deadly force used against you.


by rauckman April 5, 2012 9:29 PM EDT: Hal Uhrig you're asking the public not to rush to judgment? What are you doing by suggesting this is a simple but tragic case of self-defense when you have no medical records to document your clients injuries. The superficial scratches on George Zimmermans head does not support his story. You ever had a broken nose? Your nose will swell, you will have two black eyes, trouble breathing through your nostrils, and there may or not be bleeding through the nostril(s)however you will bleed somewhere which is more dangerous. If George really had a broken nose he should have gotten medical treatment especially since he did not bleed through his nose. As for the "head injuries" he should have gotten a cat scan to document the extent of his injuries and that would have greatly bolster his self-defense claim. I agree with you on the race issue as that will serve as a distraction from the real case. As it would be quite difficult to prove a persons state of mind. If I were the Martins, I would not go down this road. A person's height alone is not as imposing as a person's aggressive and violent nature. The FBI and State Investigators will conduct a complete and thorough investigation and the truth will come out. Good luck to your client. Don't get over-confident with these pro George Zimmerman comments. Many of these people are way off on their facts of this case including the daddy Robert Zimmerman.; Reply to this comment


by brotherscoe April 5, 2012 9:19 PM EDT: @tiredofit.Suspicious by who? Zimmermans word of Trayvon, is not the gospeltruth.With his record of assault on women and against law enforcement officers. Dispatch told him to quit following that boy and let the police handle it.This was a crime of opportunity to kill,emboldened with a permit to carry a gun, with his record he shouldn't have been given a permit.Just think if that was your son,walking home and eating candy/drinking tea. The way blacks are stereotyped is what whites hate to be held responsible for their white ancestors transggressions in history.; Reply to this comment

by commentingnow April 5, 2012 9:05 PM EDT

Here's how simple it is: (1) Zimmerman followed Trayvon and tried to detain him. Zimmerman is heard on tape saying that "they always get away." He was determined to not let this one (an innocent person) "get away." (2) Trayvon told Zimmerman he would go where he wanted. Zimmerman had no authority over him. (3) Zimmerman got physical. He either produced the gun or took hold of Trayvon. (4) There was a fight. I would fight some strange guy who tried to detain me. HE could be a mugger, especially if he showed a gun. (5) Zimmerman killed Trayvon. (6) Zimmerman -- to save himself -- lied. (7) Zimmerman continues to lie and now has family and lawyers to do it for him.

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by slinky888 April 5, 2012 9:50 PM EDT: I agree with your what you wrote. I want to know, what his defense team will come up with for what was Trayvon doing to have ever been followed, stalked, killed.


by smoky853 April 6, 2012 2:18 PM EDT: @tiredofit: There is one witness who is hiding his identity and calls himself John. He says he saw Martin beating up Z. He said he called 911. Don't know why we haven't heard his 911 call like the others. Maybe he will testify to what he supposedly saw if the case goes to court. The Z supporters always use this anonymous witness in defense of Z. If he is telling the truth he could have come forward a long time ago and settled all the controversy. That's why I don't believe him.


by commentingnow April 5, 2012 9:05 PM EDT: Here's how simple it is: (1) Zimmerman followed Trayvon and tried to detain him. Zimmerman is heard on tape saying that "they always get away." He was determined to not let this one (an innocent person) "get away." (2) Trayvon told Zimmerman he would go where he wanted. Zimmerman had no authority over him. (3) Zimmerman got physical. He either produced the gun or took hold of Trayvon. (4) There was a fight. I would fight some strange guy who tried to detain me. HE could be a mugger, especially if he showed a gun. (5) Zimmerman killed Trayvon. (6) Zimmerman -- to save himself -- lied. (7) Zimmerman continues to lie and now has family and lawyers to do it for him.; Reply to this comment