George Zimmerman's lawyer says client "stressed"; Will seek release on bond
(CBS News) The attorney for George Zimmerman said he'll seek his client's release on bond Thursday after he was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of unarmed teen Trayvon Martin, adding the neighborhood watch captain is frustrated, tired and stressed.
Appearing on "CBS This Morning" Thursday, defense lawyer Mark O'Mara wouldn't address specific facts of the case, saying that he hadn't yet seen all the information that special prosecutor Angela Corey used in making the decision to charge Zimmerman Wednesday.
But he said the issue of self-defense, which Zimmerman has claimed in the deadly Feb. 26 encounter with the 17-year-old Martin, would likely be one facet of the defense.
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Under Florida's "stand your ground" law, the use of deadly force is permissible if an individual feels threatened.
O'Mara just recently took over Zimmerman's defense after his two former attorneys - Hal Uhrig and Craig Sonner - withdrew from the case after revealing Zimmerman contacted Corey, the prosecutor, and Fox News host Sean Hannity without their consent and that they had lost contact with him.
O'Mara met with Zimmerman for the first time Wednesday night after he was taken into custody by police. Zimmerman is due in court Thursday afternoon, where he is expected to plead not guilty to the charge. O'Mara also said he would seek a bond motion during the appearance, saying his client posed no flight risk and his release was important for the purpose of building the defense case.
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The two men didn't discuss the events leading up the shooting, O'Mara said, instead focusing on Zimmerman's current state of mind.
"He's frustrated. He's tired. He's stressed. So, we just need to sort of take it one day at a time," O'Mara said.
Watch Mark O'Mara's full interview in the video player above.