Posted on 04/10/2012 2:10:59 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
The attorneys for George Zimmerman, Craig Sonner and Hal Uhrig, said Tuesday they have lost touch with their client and are withdrawing from the Trayvon Martin shooting case. Uhrig said in a news conference that the legal team heard that Zimmerman on Tuesday had contacted a special prosecutor who will decide whether or not to press charges against him, against their advice. They said they have not talked to Zimmerman, whose location is not known, in person in at least two days but in the past had spoken with him over the phone. “We can’t represent him unless he comes forward and asks us,” Uhrig said. "We have a pretty good idea where he (Zimmerman) is," Uhrig said, but added that Zimmerman is not answering the phone. The attorneys also expressed concern about Zimmerman's "emotional and physical safety" and said they have reservations about a website Zimmerman set up to solicit money for help in his defense. "Him setting up his own web site is fine," Sonner said. "I wish he would have told me.” Zimmerman is the neighborhood watch volunteer who has admitted to fatally shooting unarmed black teen Trayvon Martin in Florida. Zimmerman is the focal point in two separate investigations into the death of Martin, 17. Zimmerman, whose father is white and his mother Hispanic, says he shot Martin in self-defense after following him in a gated community in Sanford on Feb. 26. The lack of an arrest or charges in the case has sparked protests nationwide with many claiming that Zimmerman pulled a gun on Martin because of his race. Zimmerman's supporters deny that. Special prosecutor Angela Corey is investigating the fatal shooting in Florida; the U.S. Justice Department is also investigating the case.
(Excerpt) Read more at usnews.msnbc.msn.com ...
Uhrig said in a news conference that the legal team heard that Zimmerman on Tuesday had contacted a special prosecutor who will decide whether or not to press charges against him, against their advice.
They said they have not talked to Zimmerman, whose location is not known, in person in at least two days but in the past had spoken with him over the phone. “We can’t represent him unless he comes forward and asks us,” Uhrig said.
"We have a pretty good idea where he (Zimmerman) is," Uhrig said, but added that Zimmerman is not answering the phone.
The attorneys also expressed concern about Zimmerman's "emotional and physical safety" and said they have reservations about a website Zimmerman set up to solicit money for help in his defense.
"Him setting up his own web site is fine," Sonner said. "I wish he would have told me.”
Zimmerman is the neighborhood watch volunteer who has admitted to fatally shooting unarmed black teen Trayvon Martin in Florida.
Zimmerman is the focal point in two separate investigations into the death of Martin, 17.
Zimmerman, whose father is white and his mother Hispanic, says he shot Martin in self-defense after following him in a gated community in Sanford on Feb. 26.
The lack of an arrest or charges in the case has sparked protests nationwide with many claiming that Zimmerman pulled a gun on Martin because of his race. Zimmerman's supporters deny that.
Special prosecutor Angela Corey is investigating the fatal shooting in Florida; the U.S. Justice Department is also investigating the case.
He should have refrained from saying anything about Z's whereabouts.
1) They fear for their lives from Black lynch mobs
2) There is no money in it for them
Zimmerman had relatively small fish as counsel.
This case is a big net deal. He needs big-name national law dogs.
Betcha he gets ‘em.
Buzzards should be disbarred.
And Zimmerman finally figured this out. They would have sold him out in a heartbeat.
I betcha Jose Baez steps up. I’ve know Jose for 20. Yrs. This is not a difficult case to defend. Its just a media circus. Jose takes pride in defending white Hispanics and he’s well versed in the sciences. This case would be a no brained. He’s used to being the most hated man in America.
If it goes to trial, they would be able to showcase themselves as a voice of representation against reverse bigotry and media lynching. That's when the money comes, after the are famous not now.
My guess-- they know it is not going to trial and it will not get them the lime light. The fools have now shown themselves to be craven ambulance chasers that will jump ship if the work is not personally rewarding enough. A double blunder in my opinion: lose the chance to establish a real reputation and instead create a reputation of abandoning a client when the heat was not to their liking.
I hope Zimmerman has excellent representation in this case. He would be wise to remain silent, however.
I don’t have all the facts but in this country we are ‘innocent until found guilty’. Without the rule of law, we are ruled by men and we know the character of these characters.
Lets see -
Zimmerman has been the direct target of a vicious attack by the mainstream media, being vilified by every means possible.
Zimmerman IS the current target of a “dead or alive” “hit” put out by the New Black Panthers - with a cash prize in the offing.
Zimmerman is very likely in fear for his life due to death threats from other sources.
Zimmerman has been threatened by the “Nation of Islam” and their leader Farrakhan.
Zimmerman is immediately identifiable by most of the public thanks again to the media.
Even police cars are now targets of gunfire in the area of the shooting... so why wouldn’t Zimmerman be concerned for HIS welfare?
Regardless of evidence (or lack thereof), I firmly believe it would be impossible for Zimmerman to receive a fair trial after all that has been done to turn him into a racist monster. No change of venue would help that. He has been the target of a literally world-wide campaign that has made him guilty in the public eye.
Yes - I too would be concerned for his emotional well-being. Indeed, it wouldn’t surprise me if he turned up having committed suicide before this is all over. But the media doesn’t care.
I came away from the press conference with a VERY different impression. Of course, I actually WATCHED and LISTENED to the entire press conference.
In particular, Hal Uhrig was extremely passionate and forceful in his defense of Zimmerman, he set the case out factually and was unafraid to discuss the racism charges and the media heat the case has generated- he named Sharpton and Jackson saying they have come into town and stirred this up for their own gain.
The lawyers have not heard from their client for over 2 days- Zimmerman may be in a dark place about now- he has stopped listening to counsel and has called the prosecutor’s office himself- never a smart move. Luckily the prosecutor’s office is professional enough they turned him down - said no talking without Zimmerman’s attorney present.
I live about 6 miles from where this happened and so have some local views that may not be shared by all ..
What their strategy is in doing this publicly the way they are, I don’t know- but I’d want Hal Uhrig on my side if I ever needed a defense lawyer.
So were they ever actually his attorneys?
“This case is a big net deal. He needs big-name national law dogs.”
Ask for Gloria Allred.
Now that would be interesting.
He went against their advice by creating that website, and he took it upon himself against his attorney’s orders by calling the special prosecutor’s office directly, as opposed to through his own attorneys, and offering to come in and answer investigators’ questions. The prosecutor’s office told Zimmerman that they weren’t going to talk to him without his counsel present. He also called Hannity without their knowledge too.
According to one of the attorney’s, Zimmerman ain’t even in Florida right now.
Interesting, Zimmerman’s “advisors” don’t know where he’s hiding. That being the case it’s quite possible only one or two close family members know his whereabouts.
WHAT IF Zimmerman is so afraid for his life that he has gone underground and is in fact stalking the black panthers who put a bounty on his head. Those idiots are certainly not hiding, as a matter of fact they are being very visible. Not a smart move if you’re a hunter hunting another hunter.
I guess you saw this one coming so here is the $64,000 question: Would Zimmerman be justified is killing someone who threatend to kill him and has an unlawful bounty on his life? Afterall, the sign read “Dead or Alive”.
I agree. I have a lot of sympathy for Zimmerman but if he isn’t answering calls and is doing things against his attorneys’ advice and not telling them about setting up a public website, they are justified in withdrawing. That doesn’t mean they are unethical or just in this for the money or cowards; it just means they can no longer represent a client who is doing what he wants to do without coordinating with them. I hope the end result is that Zimmerman gets a top notch legal team but I’m not going to bad mouth these guys.
Shoot another black guy? It certainly wouldn’t help his cause. About 20 minutes on a computer and I could tell you my near future residence for life.
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