George Zimmerman Lawyers: 'Withdrawing As Counsel; Lost Contact With Him'

[Hissyspit]

Last edited Tue Apr 10, 2012, 05:15 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: Reuters

'He has not returned phone calls or emails since Sunday.'

Speaking on fundraising website now: 'We learned that he called Sean Hannity directly.'

'We heard today that George contacted the prosecutors office directly. We were a bit astonished...'


Attorneys for Martin shooter Zimmerman withdraw from case

By Tom Brown
Tue Apr 10, 2012 5:03pm EDT

SANFORD, Florida (Reuters) - The lawyers representing George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who shot and killed unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin but has not been arrested, on Tuesday said they have withdrawn from the case after losing contact with Zimmerman.

Attorneys Craig Sonner and Hal Uhrig said they were concerned that Zimmerman had telephoned the special prosecutor probing the case directly, set up a legal defense fund website and may have spoken with Fox Television commentator Sean Hannity, all without their knowledge.

"We have lost contact with him," attorney Craig Sonner said at a press conference outside the Seminole County Courthouse.


George Zimmerman’s Attorneys Withdraw From Case

(CBS4)
ORLANDO, Fla. (CBSMiami) – George Zimmerman’s lawyers met the press on Tuesday and said they are withdrawing as his defense council because of lack of communication from their client.

Developing…


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSBRE8391D820120410?irpc=932

[grasswire]

1. EDT? nt

[obamanut2012]

118. Eastern Daylight Time

[gateley]

2. Thanks. This is probably predictable but it'll be interesting to see anyway. nt

[drm604]

3. Sounds like an all out PR campaign

First that goofy website. Now a press conference.

[Evasporque]

150. The lawyers are setting him up for insanity defense.....nt

[LanternWaste]

4. Talking Points memo reports its his legal team rather than he himself... n/t

Talking Points memo reports its his legal team rather than he himself... n/t

[senseandsensibility]

5. What channel?

Is this for real?

[RebelOne]

8. Go to the link above. n/t

[Hissyspit]

11. Nothing happening yet. CNN says conflicting information.

[Justice wanted]

6. Is he going to surrender and plea guilty?

[slackmaster]

24. He'd have to be charged with a crime first

[sudopod]

31. You don't have to be charged to confess to a crime. nt

[slackmaster]

49. OK, OK, I did it!

But I was forced to do it, and I was framed.

[sudopod]

68. Ha...ha? nt

[robinlynne]

59. funny, my reaction was Is he leaving the country?

[Xipe Totec]

73. Wrong tense... Question is when did he leave the country? nt

[murielm99]

88. We should have a low-speed chase now,

with people lining the roads.

[robinlynne]

109. quite possibly. I guess they dont even have photos in the airports, because there is no warrant.

[JDPriestly]

119. That might not be so foolish.

I was thinking today that he has to either exonerate himself and clear his name or serve time because he will be a pariah if he doesn't. He either has to prove that he acted in self-defense or face the jury without that defense. He is really in a tough place. The police did him no service when they failed to charge him under these circumstances.

A guy who is surrounded by a team of men with guns and who shoots his way out of that situation (unlikely scenario but . . .) might be able to avoid a trial under the SYG law, seems to me, but Zimmerman's situation was too unclear. Even Jeb Bush, it is claimed, said that SYG does not apply under these facts. Well, we don't really know all the facts, but a trial is appropriate in my opinion. And not necessarily for some sort of vengeance. This situation needs to be clarified. The facts need to be established.

And the law needs to be assessed for its practicality and judicial feasibility in part based on this case (not entirely).

Anyway, that is my personal opinion for what it's worth.

[Vattel]

128. I don't think he should be charged if there is insufficent evidence against him.

If there is a serious case against him, then charge him. Justice should come first.

[JDPriestly]

137. He should be charged in my opinion.

There is no question that he shot Trayvon Martin. But there is a question as to whether his killing of Martin was justified by self-defense or not.

It could go either way, so a trial is needed.

Just what happened between Martin and Zimmerman after Zimmerman made the first 911 call determines whether Zimmerman has a right to claim self-defense. Zimmerman can't decide that for himself. A jury needs to decide.

Zimmerman's story doesn't make sense. He stated in his call to 911 that he was following Zimmerman. That might be considered to have been the initial act of aggression. (Not knowing more, off hand, I would consider it to be the initial act.) We don't know what happened after that.

The special prosecutor is supposed to make an announcement soon. Hopefully then, we will know more about the evidence.

[lame54]

7. I hope he endorses Romney

[JoePhilly]

29. LOL!!

[gateley]

41. Bwah! Although, a lot of those Republicans probably admire Zimmerman. nt

[TahitiNut]

66. Maybe he's on the "short list."

[harun]

76. ROFL, wait for it.... wait for it.....

[rfranklin]

9. So far he hasn't shown up...just a phalanx of microphones in an empty park....

that would be funny if he never showed.

[drm604]

13. Yep. Just guys doing Mike checks.

Here come two important looking guys...

[rfranklin]

16. His lawyers are resigning becuase they can't find him...

does this mean he's a fugitive?

[freshwest]

53. He's apparently been a fugitive from reality for years... Along with his dad.

[Auntie Bush]

86. And his brother...

[RebelOne]

10. I am watching, but nothing happening yet.

It is past 4:30. Maybe he changed his mind.

[RebelOne]

22. His lawyers say he is not showing and they are withdrawing counsel. n/t

[Boabab]

12. I think its time to stop kidding ourselves...

Zimmerman is not going to be arrested or charged.

This POS gunned down an innocent child in cold blood, then concocted a laughable lie about being attacked -- and he's going to walk away scot-free.

Obviously, I hope I'm wrong about this but I just saw a "leak" from a source who is supposedly close to the prosecutor's office who says that GZ will not be arrested or charged, but that a past "humanitarian" intervention of his in the case of a homeless black man who was beaten up will be used to show that he isn't racist.

This case has been reviewed at the highest levels of government, and if Trayvon can't get justice -- especially under this President -- it will speak volumes.

[barbtries]

62. i don't believe that.

i don't recall the timeline in the Rodney King case, but it took much longer than a month and a half for justice to even be pursued. there are certainly plenty of people who want to see him walk, but it would be such a gross miscarriage of justice, in my opinion if he skates in FL he'll be dealing with the Feds.

[Boabab]

71. I hope you're right, but am highly suspicious

What is the prosecutor waiting for? The autopsy report is out. What other evidence could they possibly be weighing now?

I've lost all trust in officialdom to do the right thing. Maybe the delay for for GZ to get out of the country? Who knows?

[JDPriestly]

120. Has the autopsy report been published? If so, where?

I think they would do Zimmerman a favor if they charge him. He will be persona non grata for the rest of his life in many places he doesn't even know exist. His name will be associated with this killing. He needs to present his case to a jury and see what the jury decides.

If he isn't charged, one of these days he will apply for a job or something, and his employer will remember his name (it will be vaguely familiar) and Google and check the public record -- and who would want to hire a man who shot a 17-year-old kid under unclear circumstances.

This is my opinion based on what I know.

I would like to know what the autopsy says.

[Boabab]

142. The autopsy results have not been made public, nor has it been leaked.... yet.

My take on that is that its contents are not favorable to GZ. If it was, then I'm guessing that it would have been leaked long ago to justify the decision not to present charges in the case.

If he isn't charged, the country will explode. GZ won't be in the U.S. searching for a job, he'll be somewhere else. There's been a lot of speculation that he's already left, or is planning to.

[robinlynne]

110. If he skates, there will be millions of angry americans in the streets.

[gopiscrap]

121. As they should be

if there is no legal justice, then the people need to be heard and sometimes that might be in uncomfortable ways...

[barbtries]

140. yep. and that tends

to get results. Justice demands it.

[harun]

77. Yah he will. DA has an easy case now, getting easier by the day.

[drm604]

79. Suddenly there are so many people on DU who are trying to discourage people. Telling us to give up.

Tell us more about this leak. Where did you see it?

Tell us why this past humanitarian intervention is at all relevant to the prosecutor's office?

I suppose you could argue that it may be relevant to the FBI, and to a federal prosecutor, since they're the ones who would pursue any hate crime charge, but why would a local prosecutor's office be so interested in something like this?

[Boabab]

87. Here's the relevant part of the leak. Its from Infowars

An Infowars source inside the Central Florida courts system, and close to the prosecutor’s office – intimated to this reporter that, indeed, Zimmerman’s case has already been deemed to be “too tough a sell for a Grand Jury”, and to expect a ‘surprise announcement’ after the special prosecutor has finished reviewing the case, possibly an announcement of a new hearing concerning the state’s laws.

Our sources explained that a new Grand Jury could very well be used at a later date, “in order to move the conversation away from the media’s current focus on race, towards a legal discussion regarding self-defense laws”.

Instead of a homicide charge, we can expect that “Florida’s ‘Stand Your Ground’ law will be revisited, at which time it looks like that the law may move in the direction of ‘retreat first’ if faced with a similar situation (as George Zimmerman).”

One of the other reasons Infowars was told that “race” may fall by the wayside in the Zimmerman case is because of an alleged soon-to-be-released report dating back to one year ago, detailing George Zimmerman’s pivotal role in helping to achieve justice for an older homeless black man in Sanford who was beaten up by a local policeman’s son, followed by a cover-up of the incident. Zimmerman went to multiple black churches in the area to seek help for the victim, and that Zimmerman’s efforts culminated in the eventual arrest of the assailant.

[link:http://blog.alexanderhiggins.com/2012/04/10/infowars-source-confirms-zimmerman-arrested-murder-116011/|
Admittedly, InfoWars is not the most reliable of sources, but I'm not ignoring any possible information regarding this case. Its dragging on far too long. Zimmerman should have been arrested weeks ago, and the delay is making me very suspicious.

[tblue37]

99. If, as I have read, the clock starts ticking as soon as he is formally charged, then it is better

for the prosecutor to get all her little duckies properly lined up before charging him.

[former9thward]

112. What clock are you talking about?

If you are talking about the time to trial clock both prosecutors and defense attorneys get delays on that everyday of the week. It is not that hard. I have read so much misinformation about criminal legal procedure in relation to this case I can't believe it.

[csziggy]

136. The letter that Zimmerman supposedly wrote? The one that no one heard about until last week?

Letter allegedly written by gunman George Zimmerman's family states he is not racist
Posted: 5:39 p.m. Wednesday, April 4, 2012
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. —

WFTV reporter Daralene Jones obtained a letter that was allegedly written by George Zimmerman's family, claiming he is not a racist.

The letter was sent to the sister of a black homeless man, who was beaten by a Sanford officer's son.

<SNIP>

The letter was mailed with copies of the fliers Zimmerman supposedly handed out.

In them, he demanded the city fire the former police chief, Brian Tooley, along with officers who refused to arrest Collison.

Ironically, some of those same officers were at the scene the night Zimmerman was not arrested for killing Martin.
http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/letter-allegedly-written-gunman-george-zimmermans-/nMKFD/

Link to the recent letter that was sent: http://media.cmgdigital.com/shared/news/documents/2012/04/04/DOC040412.pdf

The letter supposedly written by George Zimmerman about the Collison case is not publicly available, apparently. Why does no one remember the existence of this important missive if it was so influential in the Collison case?

The story above is the only one about this subject - every other story and blog listing I can find leads back to it.

[MsFlorida]

139. there was a you tube video of this beating

which is why the policeman's son was finally charged. Its just another cover up in florida and by the way, I live about 28 miles north of Sanford. Son used to live there, thankfully, doesnt anymore. We are familiar with the florida justice.

[cliffordu]

114. Perhaps you could provide a link to your posits.

[Blaze Diem]

134. Nothing left for this story but damage control & PR spin

Yes I do agree with you also

[XanaDUer]

14. His two lawyers are withdrawing as his counsel

Nt

[Pilotguy]

15. He's suspending his Presidential Campaign.

[leveymg]

72. With Frothy out, there's now room for someone to come into the race from the Right. He has the NRA.

[AlbertCat]

106. there's now room for someone to come into the race from the Right.

"Joe the Killer" ... a new GOP mascot...

[maddezmom]

17. Attorneys are withdrawing as counsel for Zimmerman. Have lost contact with him.

[freshwest]

57. I wonder if Bill O'Reilly's legal team have taken him on. Or Rupert or Inshanity's

Expect a made for television series like Palin's trash.

[drm604]

18. Whoa!

They've lost contact with him and are withdrawing as counsel!

WTF?

[Justice wanted]

19. LOST CONTACT!?! Or did the SOB slip out of the freaking country?!

[RebelOne]

38. Attorney said he is in the country. n/t

[Justice wanted]

40. BUT they have not physically seen him. And I wonder IF he is going to slip out of the country.

[robinlynne]

63. Since there is no warrant for his arrest, I guess he could just leave, period.

[Pachamama]

83. His Mom is Peruvian....wonder if he has some family there willing to hide him...

.... Don't know what their extradition agreements are with the US, but if he was smart, he would be there already or go real soon because it's possible to travel there now, not later and the writing is on the wall....he's either going to be charged and arrested and a trial and he will fight all the way (including any extradition claiming he can't get a fair trial). Or if he isn't charged, he will be public enemy number one and probably for his safety remain out of the country.

Yeah, I predict he is in Peru or will be soon.

His lawyers realize he is out of control and for their own obligations as officers if the court are removing themselves.

[bluedigger]

20. They are withdrawing as counsel due to "lost contact"!

[freshwest]

58. Or merely *lost control* of the walking time bomb...

[Pilotguy]

21. Zimmerman's Gone Rogue.

[Cali_Democrat]

32. ...

[freshwest]

60. From his domestic assault records on the net, he went rogue years ago. Like Mad Dog rogue.

[maddezmom]

23. no contact with Zimmerman since Sunday

looks like it has something to do with the websites set up for donations.

[maddezmom]

30. has called Sean Hannity and the Prosecutors office without legal counsel

and basically said these 2 attorneys weren't representing him anymore.

[freshwest]

64. And Sean, the poster child for *The Boys From Brazil* will take care of him, alright.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

74. Hannity defended the guilty cop who assaulted Abner Louima, so it's a natural fit

No surprise that Zimmerman would run to FOX and seek help from white nationalist and convicted domestic terrorist Hal Turner's bosom buddy Sean.

[freshwest]

92. Yeah, that's right. Vermin stick together. Until they get a better deal.

[drm604]

25. Called Sean Hannity.

That says it all.

[XanaDUer]

26. I wonder if he's left the country

Now lawyers talking about his website that he or familydidn't tell lawyers about new website. Z called Hannity and won't tell lawyers what was said. Also Z won't meet w/ special prosecutor.

[RebelOne]

44. One attorney said that he was still in the country and didn't know where he was,

but to look much farther than Florida.

[calimary]

103. Yeah that stuck out to me, too.

Evidently, according to that, anyway, he's at least left the state.

[HooptieWagon]

141. Left the state?

That doesnt look good.

[Pat Riot]

149. global grind says he's gone from Florida but not the US

If you friend or like Justice for Trayvon on facebook, you'll get a lot of links to global grind, which seems to have the newest info. Trayvon's parents believe Zimmerman is going to flee the country.
I don't have much trust in the State Attorney either. It seems she is giving GZ time to get away. First of all, she's a Republican. Secondly, she tried twice as many children as adults as her predecessor.

All this talk about "justice" and the "case" is depressing. The poor kid is dead. What good will the abstract concept of justice do him now? I hope something resembling justice will happen to prevent future Trayvons, but it's seeming less likely every day. (45 and counting.) And there's no "case" until/unless that POS is arrested and charged.

[Akoto]

27. Zimmerman's legal team says they are withdrawing as counsel. Details.

They say they had previously had contact with him every day, but he has since stopped answering calls and emails, etc.

They said that they lost track of Zimmerman on Sunday. They didn't know about the therealgeorgezimmerman.com site, told the media to go with that, but began to realize that they could not reach out to him.

The lawyers believe that Zimmerman called Sean Hannity personally. Hannity would not disclose what the discussion was about.

In light of his failure to communicate, they have withdrawn their representation, though they say they will come back if he wants.

[Thrill]

28. His Attorney just said he's been talking to Hannity

LOL.

[senseandsensibility]

33. He talked to Hannity on the air?

This guy is not making good decisions to put it mildly. Seems like his "judge" daddy would be advising him better.

[Akoto]

35. He didn't.

From what I heard, he called Hannity directly, but Hannity wouldn't disclose what was said.

[Justice wanted]

34. Did I hear correctly the PAYPAL site on Real George Zimmerman is going DIRECTLY to George?!

LIKE HE IS GOING TO BE IN THE U.S. for a short time BUT is going to use this as a way to go on the run?

[Akoto]

36. I believe they said it was going to his father. n/t

[Justice wanted]

37. I thought the orginal one set up with these two was set up with his father BUT the one on the George

Zimmerman website is a different paypal account.

[maddezmom]

51. that is how I heard it as well

[amandabeech]

39. Withdrawing lawyers think that Z may have cracked up.

I think that's possible. I don't think that this guy's mental health was all that good to begin with, but the bounty on his head and the media circus may have gotten to him.

Or maybe he's feeling really guilty, and may off himself.

[drm604]

42. For people who claim to no longer represent him

they certainly are spending a lot of their expensive time on a press conference, and they certainly are trying to make people feel sympathetic towards him.

[Mariana]

82. It'll pay off for them.

They'll make scads of money now that they're semi-famous. It's to their advantage to spend as much time as posslble with their mugs on the teevee.

[xxqqqzme]

138. After watching multiple

replays and clips of the 'withdrawing' attorneys, I don't believe this for one second. They are setting up the 'shaken baby' defense and they are referencing his suffering PTSD. ALL bullshit! That is an insult to anyone experiencing the after effects of brain trauma.

I want to see some hospital records if his head was slammed into the pavement so hard he suffered brain trauma. I know the slam my brain took to send me into a coma for 3 days (my brother said it looked like my forehead/temple skin had been drawn over a baseball).

These are defense attorneys. They are practiced in the art of courtroom acting and drama. I do not believe them for a second!

[drm604]

43. He says he doesn't know where Zimmerman is

but that he's much further away than Florida.

[drm604]

45. Anyone else think this whole thing sounds fishy?

Like these lawyers know more than they're saying? That this whole thing is some sort of charade? Maybe I watch too many legal dramas.

[sakabatou]

47. I don't know

[stonecutter357]

55. fishy

very fishy.

[robinlynne]

65. you're right. Why would they even speak about it if they withdraw as counsel?

[harun]

78. Because they don't want to be associated with the guy.

[drm604]

91. Defending him in front of the cameras for 40 minutes

is an odd way of disassociating themselves.

[frylock]

111. you can't buy publicity like that..

a free 40-minute advert on national teevee.

[robinlynne]

107. oh it sounded to me like they are begging him to come back.

[99th_Monkey]

105. Because they want keep his "business"?

They may be telling the truth about having lost contact with GZ, and if that's true, then
it kinda make$ $en$e for them to try to re$urrect him as their infamou$ client.

$limeball$.

[robinlynne]

108. I'm with you. they entioned the apyapl account and that the moeny is going to george, when it was su

supposed to go to them via his father 3 times.

[appleannie1]

46. He sure is proving he does not do what he is told. And for him to

call Sean Hannity? Just one more point toward a hate crime.

[drm604]

48. Some of his best friends are black.

[drm604]

50. They say they no longer represent him

but it sounds like a rehearsed defense.

[drm604]

52. Attacking the press now.

Trying to reframe it as poor innocent George being smeared by the press.

He's sure putting a lot of time and effort into defending someone he no longer represents.

[RebelOne]

54. The attorney is using all the old talking points in Zimmerman's defense.

In my opinion, it is a bunch of bullshit. I believe Zimmerman is guilty.

[drm604]

56. Now defending the SYG law.

Oh, it's a common law. 24 states have it. It's a perfectly reasonable good law.

If you're against the law then you're anti-gun to the bone. If we don't have such a law then it's open season for the criminals to attack you. .

Scripted right-wing bullshit.

[drm604]

61. 45 minutes of vociferously defending someone he "no longer represents".

What. A. Load.

[Blue_Tires]

67. just when this story had almost run out of twists

what.the.fuckin.hell?

[TahitiNut]

69. Zimmerman lost contact

... with reality a LONG time ago. Cowards with guns deserve to be hoisted on their own petard.

[jeanmarc]

70. Why attorneys continue to talk in front of cameras?

Face time.

Free advertising for their lousy services.

[SamG]

75. Arrest him! Arrest his father, his "friends", all of them...

leave the lawyers out of the arrest warrant, they are dancing their way out of this already, and, of course, his lawyers were NOT there when he killed the skinny kid for being black in the neighborhood, with a hoodie in the rain. Arrest his father and friends for obstruction of justice.

The rest, arrest them all...tomorrow morning... force the lawyers to reveal his location, then let them off.

Zimmerman is an unbalanced man with a gun, get him off the streets, let this play out in courts, and let the defendant find out what it is like to be in jail with black folks.

[drm604]

84. How could you arrest his father and friends?

Sorry, but that makes no sense.

[IamK]

97. don't question irrational statements on here...... it just causes trouble...

[freshwest]

152. Wouldn't be an arrest. It would be lying in court if it gets there. They're lying in public now.

Judges don't take kindly to perjury.

Obstruction of justice is a great charge to use on those who withhold the truth.

But then, consider where this swill is coming from:

[SunSeeker]

80. Can't wait for Hannity to be subpoenaed as a witness!

[freshwest]

93. That would be something else!

[arely staircase]

81. this is now moving into the realm of the truly strange

first he puts up the website with the defaced african-american organization's building, now this.

we are not far from barricaded and surrounded by swat team territory.

[freshwest]

94. It's so stupid, it has to be an intentional charade. No one is that clueless.

[coeur_de_lion]

146. I don't know which is worse --

stupid or intentional charade.

He does come off as unbalanced mentally and emotionally. Kind of like "What's everybody so mad about? All I did was kill a black kid." He acts like he is the victim here. If he had ever expressed remorse or said he made a mistake I would feel a whole lot better. But he continues to say stalking and killing an unarmed black kid is perfectly acceptable behavior. That when people know the facts he will be exonerated. As if there is ever a good reason to stalk and kill someone.

This guy could end up going postal. I hope the prosecutor moves quickly.

He may have avoided his attorneys because they let him know charges will likely be brought, and he knows he won't last a day in prison. He may have simply decided to run.

Or they may have presented him with a large bill he doesn't want to pay.

It's all speculation. We don't know. But things sure have gotten strange with this case.

[freshwest]

147. It's been so bizarre, that without the footage from the police station, I'd doubt he ever existed.

It's been full of thought-terminating clichés.**

Only that video and a 17 year old young man in a grave makes the events depicted approach reality.

It's as if it's all a movie, a badly written one, at that.

But Zimmermann fits the profile of a sociopathic, out of control bully from the police records available. The typical bully goes from being aggressive to hiding their tail between their legs and whining. It's part of the same behavior, really.

GZ seems to have doubted his manhood or worth as a man since he was unable to succeed in conventional society. Most people would not need to get out of their vehicle against police orders, unless they felt the need to prove something they were in doubt of. He was a wannabe police officer, but didn't have what it took, so this was probably his way to do that.

Or he had a severe mental imbalance, or a native lack of empathy. Another DUer made a thread about how he'd seen such an individual actually created, with an enabling mother who let him get away with everything by manipulating the system around his actions, until he finally committed an act that was inescapable. This would appear to be the case here, but from the father.

As you say, we are just speculating because we are learning about many things through this event. Good post you made there.

**http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thought-terminating_clich%C3%A9#Thought-terminating_clich.C3.A9

[coeur_de_lion]

151. I think you are right about his father's influence

I think he never had to "pay" for any wrongdoing before. His father enabled him to continue to lead his life as he pleased despite his execrable behavior. So he has come to believe that he really can't ever be wrong.

He expects support for all of his actions. Sad thing is, he is getting it. What kind of world do we live in where people think it is okay to kill a young boy for taking a trip to the 7-11?

There is something I read in my research when I was writing a paper long ago about domestic violence. It's called "external locus of control." It's used to describe people who never think they have done wrong; that whenever they hurt someone, they say "he/she made me do it." It's always someone else's fault. GZ seems to have that personality trait. Like Flip Wilson saying "the Devil made me do it." But it isn't funny like when Flip said it -- it's awful and scary to be on the receiving end of that kind of attitude.

He can't believe he is racist because there was a time or two when he was nice to black people. He has never burned a cross on someone's lawn, after all. He's just the kind of racist who says "what is that black guy doing in my neighborhood? I'm going to kick him out."

You are right that this whole thing is so bizarre that without the dead 17 year old and the video of GZ it would be completely unbelievable. It's a nightmare.

I had never heard the phrase "thought-terminating cliche." You taught me something today -- thanks!

[polichick]

85. Let me guess. They didn't take his gun - or his passport?

[Boabab]

89. Probably right on both counts

And he was an extremely obvious flight risk.

[amandabeech]

100. The local police actually did take in his gun as evidence the night of the shooting.

I doubt that he has it back.

I haven't heard anything about a passport, if he has one. He's not been charged, technically, he might be able to travel to DC or NY and get one quickly in the express line.

[AndyTiedye]

129. Zimmerman Can Buy Another Gun If He Wants

His background check would still come up clear, as he has not been convicted of anything yet.
His Florida gun permit is still valid.

[amandabeech]

131. Thanks for the post. I hadn't thought of that.

I do hope that we get through this without bloodshed.

I'm old enough to remember the riots of the '60s, particularly Detroit. I'm originally from Michigan.

I want no repeats of the '60s and early '70s.

[AndyTiedye]

135. I am Afraid the Rethuglicans Might Want Exactly That

They would do anything to win the elections.

[Javaman]

90. typical repuke coward.

thinks the media will save his ass. LOL

at the end of the day, he will still need a lawyer. And with his current actions, most good lawyers will regard him as radioactive.

zimmerman: exploring new depths of stupidity.

[Ruby the Liberal]

115. There will be a line of Jose Baez' vying for the chance.

This is what they live for when they go into private practice. The high profile case (win or lose) that gets them face time in the media and puts them on the map.

[DCBob]

95. Why would Z not contact his lawyers but decide instead to call a talk show host?

This guy is scheming or really stupid.

[Blaze Diem]

101. ..because he no longer needs his counsel, because they already know he won't be charged

the rest of this is damage control. Fox will pay him to tell his story & support whatever tale he tells.

---just my opinion after the attorney press conference today.

Already a done deal.

[DCBob]

104. I dont think so.

Even if he somehow knows he not going to be charged.. there are still legal issues he will have to deal with. Apparently these guys are good respectable lawyers and would be good counsel for whatever issues might come up.

I think he might be trying to find someone else who might be more willing to enthusiatically defend a guilty person.

[earcandle]

96. This man killed a child in cold blood. It is not up to us to determine why. Race doesn't matter.

Life and death matters.

He needs to be accountable for this child's murder.

Period.

Who is going to follow or ignore the rule of law is the question here.
The only question. And once we discover someone is not following rule of law,
they step down and the next person try the case.

This is not acceptable.

[JDPriestly]

122. Right. The case is about one man and one teenager and what happened on

one night.

A trial is appropriate. Only through a trial can Zimmerman exonerate himself, so I don't think anyone is doing him a favor by assuming that he acted in self-defense.

That initial call to 911 is a giveaway as to Zimmerman's illusions about Trayvon. The officer on the phone stated that "they" did not want Zimmerman to follow Trayvon -- and I assume that the officer had no idea that Zimmerman was armed and dangerous.

Zimmerman may have made a tragic mistake, but for his sake it would be best to have a trial with the evidence clearly presented. If a jury decides in his favor, then that is the last word in my opinion. But to have all these questions hanging over his head for the rest of his life -- no. That would not be a good outcome for him.

To say nothing about the fact that it would be an unjust outcome for the Martin family.

[GreydeeThos]

98. Sure looks like an admission of guilt

[marshall gaines]

102. long

the joke has gone on waaaayyyy too long. why does this white man get all this room to maneuver? all it's doing is showing how racially preferential florida is. Oh, i remember Rosewood, so I guess i'm not surprised. this is a joke that is sickening me!

[solarman350]

113. "Color" zimmerman gone....He left the country before Easter

Question is:

Can his father et al be charged as accomplices?

[Ruby the Liberal]

116. Accomplices to what?

He hasn't been charged. Until that happens, he can do whatever he wants and talk to whoever he wants.

That said, those conversations do not carry privilege, and Hannity could be subopena'd (and will at least have to talk to the special prosecutor).

Until someone in the State of Florida (or DOJ) decides to charge him with something, he can take off for Czechoslovakia on an "extended vacation' if he wants.

[rainbow4321]

117. Just saw on TV, special prosecuter to hold news conf within 72 hrs

Crap...what are the odds Zimmerman has fled the country?? Given his family's reported ties to people in high places, has he left the country? Has he been given any heads up by someone that he is a) about to be charged/arrested OR that he has, once again, beaten the rap and he doesn't want to be around for the fallout (riots, anger, etc...)

[Catherine Vincent]

123. They probably disagreed with the website

I'm actually surprised some site like TMZ hasn't found him and took his pic.

[Redford]

124. He doesn't need a lawyer...they are letting him go

and they are going to announce it on Friday late....no grand jury....no indictment.....no need for lawyers....He's walking, folks.

[Boabab]

143. Yup, he's walking. Justice has left the building. nt

[SunSeeker]

125. He might be in Peru (his mom's Peruvian)

http://www.smh.com.au/world/who-is-george-zimmerman-20120325-1vs1a.html

[Evasporque]

144. ding ding ding nt

[Ganja Ninja]

145. That would make sense. n/t

[Canuckistanian]

126. Not surprising

I heard that BOTH lawyers were doing this pro bono.

[janx]

127. Yes, and the website and media contacts--

apparently his lawyers didn't know about these...? I wondered yesterday if they did.

[tabasco]

130. He's acting very much like a guilty person.

The jig is up, murderer.

[Beartracks]

132. He's a 2016 GOP hopeful.

"George the Watchman" -- 2016's "Joe the Plumber".



===================

[jwirr]

133. I have been listening to all the MSNBC shows tonight and the lawyers may say they are quitting

but they are still defending him - saying they do not believe he will be indicted and that he is suffering from mental stress. They may not know where he is but they also make it very plain they have never met him face to face so they have never known where he was.

As to having PTSD I do not believe it. I have said I think he could commit suicide but not for that reason. He is afraid - a real coward without a gun in his hands. He is running because he knows he could go to prison. That is my opinion of what is being said.

[bayareaboy]

148. His Attorneys are just muddying the waters ... ...

They figure they can't use the Stand your ground defense because the the guy was warned enough times.

So if they prove that he can't get a fair hearing from the courts than they don't have to prove he is Crazy so he can do a little hospital time, which is their next step, if this don't work.

[Smilo]

153. ??Zimmerman to be charged this p.m. ????

Florida special prosecutor Angela Corey plans to announce as early as Wednesday afternoon that she is charging neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in the shooting of Trayvon Martin, according to a law enforcement official close to the investigation


http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/george-zimmerman-to-be-charged-in-trayvon-martin-shooting-law-enforcement-official-says/2012/04/11/gIQAHJ5oAT_story.html?wpisrc=al_national