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| Lawyers for Trayvon Martin shooter George Zimmerman stand down | Lawyers for Trayvon Martin shooter George Zimmerman stand down |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| Lawyers for George Zimmerman, the man who shot and killed the unarmed black Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, have lost contact with their client and withdrawn themselves as his legal representatives. | |
| Hal Uhrig and Craig Sonner announced the move at an unusual press conference at the Sanford courthouse this afternoon, at which they suggested that Zimmerman was undergoing some kind of breakdown. | Hal Uhrig and Craig Sonner announced the move at an unusual press conference at the Sanford courthouse this afternoon, at which they suggested that Zimmerman was undergoing some kind of breakdown. |
| They revealed that the self-appointed neighbourhood watch captain, who shot and killed Martin in a much publicised confrontation in his Florida gated community on 26 February, had contacted prosecutors and the Fox News journalist Sean Hannity without their knowledge. | They revealed that the self-appointed neighbourhood watch captain, who shot and killed Martin in a much publicised confrontation in his Florida gated community on 26 February, had contacted prosecutors and the Fox News journalist Sean Hannity without their knowledge. |
| The pair said that the 28-year-old Zimmerman's new website, which went live on Monday seeking to raise funds for his defence, was set up independently of their guidance, leading them to believe he no longer wanted them to act for him. | The pair said that the 28-year-old Zimmerman's new website, which went live on Monday seeking to raise funds for his defence, was set up independently of their guidance, leading them to believe he no longer wanted them to act for him. |
| "We're concerned for his emotional and physical safety," said Uhrig, who added that the last contact they had with him was on Sunday. | "We're concerned for his emotional and physical safety," said Uhrig, who added that the last contact they had with him was on Sunday. |
| "This has been a terribly corrosive process. George Zimmerman, in our opinion, is not doing well emotionally, probably suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome. | "This has been a terribly corrosive process. George Zimmerman, in our opinion, is not doing well emotionally, probably suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome. |
| "We understand from others that he may have lost a lot of weight. Our concern is that for him to do this when he's got a couple of professionals out there working as hard as we were for his benefit, it suggests he may not be in complete control of what's going on." | "We understand from others that he may have lost a lot of weight. Our concern is that for him to do this when he's got a couple of professionals out there working as hard as we were for his benefit, it suggests he may not be in complete control of what's going on." |
| Sonner, who said he was representing Zimmerman for no charge, said: "I've lost contact with him. | Sonner, who said he was representing Zimmerman for no charge, said: "I've lost contact with him. |
| "Up until this point I had contact every day. He's gone on his own – I'm not sure what he's doing or who he's talking to. I can't go forward speaking to the public about George Zimmerman in this case. I can't proceed to represent a client who doesn't stay in contact with me." | "Up until this point I had contact every day. He's gone on his own – I'm not sure what he's doing or who he's talking to. I can't go forward speaking to the public about George Zimmerman in this case. I can't proceed to represent a client who doesn't stay in contact with me." |
| The lawyers said that they had learned Zimmerman had called Hannity against their wishes to discuss the case, albeit off the record. | The lawyers said that they had learned Zimmerman had called Hannity against their wishes to discuss the case, albeit off the record. |
| But it was Zimmerman's call to special prosecutor Angela Corey, who is currently deciding whether to charge him, that appeared to be the final straw. | But it was Zimmerman's call to special prosecutor Angela Corey, who is currently deciding whether to charge him, that appeared to be the final straw. |
| In that call, according to Uhrig, Zimmerman said the two were "not his legal representatives, only his legal advisers." | In that call, according to Uhrig, Zimmerman said the two were "not his legal representatives, only his legal advisers." |
| He said: "We heard today that George had contact the special prosecutor's office directly. | He said: "We heard today that George had contact the special prosecutor's office directly. |
| "What every defence attorney tells his client is: 'Don't talk to the prosecutors, don't talk to the cops, don't talk to anybody until we get control of the situation and do it through counsel'." | "What every defence attorney tells his client is: 'Don't talk to the prosecutors, don't talk to the cops, don't talk to anybody until we get control of the situation and do it through counsel'." |
| He added that Corey's office told Zimmerman that they would not talk to him without him being formally represented by counsel. | He added that Corey's office told Zimmerman that they would not talk to him without him being formally represented by counsel. |
| "Perhaps he just reached the point where he thought, 'I'm going to take care of this myself'," Uhrig said. | "Perhaps he just reached the point where he thought, 'I'm going to take care of this myself'," Uhrig said. |
| "We are not going to put ourselves out to the public as continuing representatives of a client unless he makes it clear to us that he wants us to be his representatives." | "We are not going to put ourselves out to the public as continuing representatives of a client unless he makes it clear to us that he wants us to be his representatives." |
| Zimmerman, they said, is still in hiding but was refusing to return their phone calls or emails. | Zimmerman, they said, is still in hiding but was refusing to return their phone calls or emails. |
| Corey's office made no immediate comment on the lawyers' withdrawal, but analysts said it would add to the pressure on her to make an early decision. On Monday she announced that she would not be calling a grand jury to examine the case, and would decide if Zimmerman would face charges herself. | Corey's office made no immediate comment on the lawyers' withdrawal, but analysts said it would add to the pressure on her to make an early decision. On Monday she announced that she would not be calling a grand jury to examine the case, and would decide if Zimmerman would face charges herself. |
| Tuesday's unexpected developments follow warnings from officials in Sanford of rising racial tensions. | Tuesday's unexpected developments follow warnings from officials in Sanford of rising racial tensions. |
| Earlier in the day, several bullets were fired and at least two struck the windscreen and side mirror of a police car parked near to where Martin, 17, was shot as he walked home carrying a soft drink and some sweets. | Earlier in the day, several bullets were fired and at least two struck the windscreen and side mirror of a police car parked near to where Martin, 17, was shot as he walked home carrying a soft drink and some sweets. |
| The police cruiser was unoccupied at the time and the damage was minimal but the incident is a further sign of growing acrimony on both sides of the controversy. | The police cruiser was unoccupied at the time and the damage was minimal but the incident is a further sign of growing acrimony on both sides of the controversy. |
| "Are we a kindling box? Sure", Sanford mayor Jeff Triplett said in an interview Tuesday morning with ABC News. "But we're working down a path, and so far it's been perfectly peaceful." | "Are we a kindling box? Sure", Sanford mayor Jeff Triplett said in an interview Tuesday morning with ABC News. "But we're working down a path, and so far it's been perfectly peaceful." |
| Another anonymous city official earlier revealed to ABC that there were fears of a violent backlash if Corey decided against charging Zimmerman. Her decision is expected any day. | Another anonymous city official earlier revealed to ABC that there were fears of a violent backlash if Corey decided against charging Zimmerman. Her decision is expected any day. |
| The official said that three surrounding counties had activated emergency operations centres to a level usually only seen during hurricanes, while thousands of national guard troops would be available at the discretion of Florida governor Rick Scott. | The official said that three surrounding counties had activated emergency operations centres to a level usually only seen during hurricanes, while thousands of national guard troops would be available at the discretion of Florida governor Rick Scott. |
| Several peaceful protests have taken place in Sanford, with civil rights leaders Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson and members of Martin's family among those calling for Zimmerman's arrest. | Several peaceful protests have taken place in Sanford, with civil rights leaders Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson and members of Martin's family among those calling for Zimmerman's arrest. |
| But the mood in the town has darkened in recent weeks, with activist group the New Black Panthers offering a $10,000 reward for Zimmerman's capture and right-wing extremists planning demonstrations on his behalf. | But the mood in the town has darkened in recent weeks, with activist group the New Black Panthers offering a $10,000 reward for Zimmerman's capture and right-wing extremists planning demonstrations on his behalf. |
| Zimmerman's new website, which went online Monday night, contains his first public comments since the shooting. | Zimmerman's new website, which went online Monday night, contains his first public comments since the shooting. |
| "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," he wrote. | "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," he wrote. |
| "This website's sole purpose is to ensure my supporters they are receiving my full attention without any intermediaries." | "This website's sole purpose is to ensure my supporters they are receiving my full attention without any intermediaries." |
| The site, which had recorded fewer than 200 views by 2pm Tuesday, contains a link to a Paypal page set up by Zimmerman to raise money "in lieu of my forced inability to maintain employment". But a photograph of graffiti sprayed on the wall at an Ohio university, saying "Long Live Zimmerman", was removed from the site on Tuesday morning. Ohio detectives announced they would investigate the vandalism as a hate crime. | The site, which had recorded fewer than 200 views by 2pm Tuesday, contains a link to a Paypal page set up by Zimmerman to raise money "in lieu of my forced inability to maintain employment". But a photograph of graffiti sprayed on the wall at an Ohio university, saying "Long Live Zimmerman", was removed from the site on Tuesday morning. Ohio detectives announced they would investigate the vandalism as a hate crime. |
| Benjamin Crump, a lawyer for Martin's parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, denounced the Zimmerman website. | Benjamin Crump, a lawyer for Martin's parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, denounced the Zimmerman website. |
| "He says that he experienced a life-altering event. Well, Trayvon Martin experienced a life-ending event. And George Zimmerman is trying to have us believe that his life is so terrible now," Crump said on ABC's Good Morning America. | "He says that he experienced a life-altering event. Well, Trayvon Martin experienced a life-ending event. And George Zimmerman is trying to have us believe that his life is so terrible now," Crump said on ABC's Good Morning America. |
| He said Martin's parents were not surprised by Corey's decision not to call a grand jury, which means that Zimmerman cannot be charged with first-degree murder, only a lesser charge. | He said Martin's parents were not surprised by Corey's decision not to call a grand jury, which means that Zimmerman cannot be charged with first-degree murder, only a lesser charge. |
| "We are hopeful that a decision will be reached very soon to arrest George Zimmerman and give Trayvon Martin's family the simple justice they have been seeking all along," he said. | "We are hopeful that a decision will be reached very soon to arrest George Zimmerman and give Trayvon Martin's family the simple justice they have been seeking all along," he said. |