Sanford, FL – Zimmerman’s Lawyers Withdraw from Shooting Case

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    Hal Uhrig, right, and Craig Sonner, former attorneys for George Zimmerman, speak to reporters during a news conference to announce that both attorneys had quit as Zimmerman's legal representatives in Sanford, Fla., Tuesday, April 10, 2012. Zimmerman is a neighborhood watch volunteer who authorities say fatally shot an unarmed teenager. The men said have withdrawn as his counsel because they haven't heard from him in days and he is taking actions related to the case without consulting them. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)Sanford, FL – Two attorneys for the Florida neighborhood watch volunteer who fatally shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin said Tuesday that they have withdrawn as his counsel because they haven’t heard from him in days and he is taking actions related to the case without consulting them.

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    Attorney Craig Sonner and Hal Uhrig said at a news conference they haven’t heard from George Zimmerman since Sunday. They said that against their advice, Zimmerman contacted the special prosecutor who will decide if he should face charges. A spokeswoman for Angela Corey’s office didn’t immediately respond to an email and two phone calls.

    Zimmerman says he shot Martin in self-defense after following the teenager in a Sanford, a gated community outside Orlando on Feb. 26. He said after he followed Martin for a time, he was returning to his truck when the teen attacked him. He shot the unarmed teen to death during the altercation.

    Sonner said they legal team had talked to Zimmerman almost every day the last couple months.

    “As of the last couple days he has not returned phone calls, text messages or emails,” Sonner said. “He’s gone on his own. I’m not sure what he’s doing or who he’s talking to. I cannot go forward speaking to the public about George Zimmerman and this case as representing him because I’ve lost contact with him.”

    Attorney Hal Uhrig said that his legal team is still concerned about Zimmerman, who he said is “not doing well emotionally” and may be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

    The lack of an arrest has led to protests across the nation and spurred a debate about race and the laws of self-defense. Zimmerman’s father is white and his mother is Hispanic.

    Craig Sonner, the first attorney Zimmerman contacted, said he agreed to take the case on a pro bono basis until Zimmerman is perhaps charged.

    Sonner said he has never talked to Zimmerman face-to-face and that the 28-year-old man has gone into hiding but that he believes he’s still in the U.S. Both attorneys said they’d be willing to represent him again if he asks.

    Ben Crump, an attorney for Martin’s family, said they’re concerned that Zimmerman could be a flight risk if he is charged with a crime since his now-former attorneys don’t know how to contact him.

    “At this point, we’re just concerned that nobody knows where he is at. Nobody knows how to get to him,” Crump said.

    Zimmerman set up a website therealgeorgezimmerman.com to collect money from his supporters, but the attorneys didn’t know about it until they started getting questions from the media, Sonner said.

    “I am the real George Zimmerman,” the website said. “As a result of the incident and subsequent media coverage, I have been forced to leave my home, my school, my employer, my family and ultimately, my entire life.”

    That portrait of his life since the shooting was confirmed by his attorneys.

    Sonner said that he stands behind his statements that Zimmerman did act in self-defense, however, “I just can’t proceed to represent a client who doesn’t stay in contact with me.”


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    34 Comments
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    Yossi_Schochet
    Yossi_Schochet
    11 years ago

    “They said that against their advice, Zimmerman contacted the special prosecutor who will decide if he should face charges.”

    Disclosing this is a blatant breach of attorney-client confidentiality, an egregious disregard of basic Code of Ethics ABA Rules and their duty of loyalty to their (former) client.

    I am shocked by such behaviour and recommend a law suit.

    11 years ago

    I really pity Mr. Zimmerman, what the main-stream Media have done to him is beyond normality, simply a rush to judgment..besides all the evidence shows that Travon Martin was beating him to death and was a troubled kid,and was out there for no good…imagine you would in Gorgese situation! When a black person attacks you…wouldn’t you do anything in the world to protects yourself????????

    11 years ago

    Zimmerman may have no choice, but to leave the USA, and go to a country, which doesn’t have an extradition treaty with the USA. Even if he is tried and found not guilty, he will still face threats on his life, and will be a marked man forever.

    Anon Ibid Opcit
    Anon Ibid Opcit
    11 years ago

    So he put up a website to “explain his side of the story”. And he wants to get on Sean Hannity’s show to tell the world. And he won’t talk to his lawyers.

    Any cop or lawyer will tell you the guy is an idiot. One of the things everyone should know is if you’re under investigation or even possible investigation for a crime you KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT. Only talk to your lawyer about the case and to your doctor about medical issues connected with the case. Maybe your rabbi. Your parents and spouse can’t be forced to testify against you, but their communications aren’t privileged.

    Anything else can and will be used against you by the prosecutor or when you’re sued. Talking to the press is simply stupid.

    11 years ago

    I’d like to response to “PMO in Florida”. He seems to be an authority on the law, and has even posted a number of legal opinions. In addition, he seems to have formed an opinion on this case, even though not all of the facts (which are only known to the police and the special prosecutor), have been revealed to the public. Hence, it is up to the special prosecutor to decide whether or not to charge Mr. Zimmerman. However, if one dares to disagree with “PMO in Florida”, he will erupt like an volcano, and will immediately shift into the larger case type, and use such respectful terms as “idiot”, “ignoramus”, etc. Even when he is criticized for his choice of words, he will try to justify doing so, and will again use those terms, or other terms. Although he criticized Mr. Zimmerman for being power hungry, Mr. “PMO in Florida”, delights in also being power hunger, by continuously verbally bashing other people on this board.

    11 years ago

    To #27 - Thank you very much, indeed, for your opinion regarding the comments of “PMO in Florida”; that person does not know how to respectfully disagree with other commentators. Even when he has been continuously corrected about being mean spirited, he will still bash other commentators by calling them “stupid”, “idiot”, “ignoramus”; afterwards, he has the chutzpah to try to justify his nasty postings. As far as “PMO in Florida” is concerned, Zimmerman has already been convicted. According to PMO, Zimmerman is guilty until proven innocent. It should also be noted that anytime someone disagrees with him about Zimmerman, in addition to using the language above, (along with using the upper case, when he gets angry), he will immediately allege that such opinions are reflective of Rush Limbaugh and Hannity. In other words, he feels that commentators on this site, are not intelligent enough to state that the public should wait until all of the facts have been revealed. Gevalt!!

    11 years ago

    To Sherry the Noahide: How come have you never addressed the problem of Black upon White crime, which is far, far, more prevalent than White against Black crime. You are always raising allegations of racism, but you never discuss Black racism. Kindly clarify this matter!