Things have taken a new twist in the case of George Zimmerman who shot Trayvon Martin to death on February 26, 2012. ABC News is is reporting that his attorneys have dropped their strategy to seek dismissal of the case at an immunity hearing set for April. Zimmerman was expected to cite Florida's Stand Your Ground law at the hearing which, if successful, would have immediately set Zimmerman free.
George Zimmerman's attorneys stunned court observers today by deciding to skip a "Stand Your Ground" hearing slated for April that might have led to a dismissal of the charges in the shooting death of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin.
Under Florida's Stand Your Ground law, Zimmerman is entitled to immunity and if he can prove he shot and killed Martin Feb. 26, 2012 self defense. If self defense was determined, all criminal proceedings would have immediately stopped, and Zimmerman would have walked free.
But Zimmerman's legal team also risked the possibility that the judge would reject the motion and the hearing would give prosecutors an opportunity to pick apart Zimmerman's testimony.
His attorneys indicated they will still pursue a self-defense strategy, possibly citing Stand Your Ground at trial. They also left open the possibility that they may request a Stand Your Ground hearing at a later date. Defense attorney Mark O'Mara
said he believes that his client has a better shot of being acquitted in a jury trial than he does being granted immunity by a judge.
O’Mara said outside Seminole County Courthouse on Tuesday that Zimmerman believes it would be a better outcome to be found not guilty of murdering Martin, rather than being granted immunity, WESH reported.
"George wants a jury of his peers to decide the case. It’s going to be, I think, a more accepted result for everyone who has to result that he gets an acquittal at trial even more so than immunity hearing by a judge."
A spokesman for Zimmerman’s defense team, Sean Vincent
spoke with NBC News and indicated Zimmerman may still seek immunity at a civil hearing if the need arises.
Vincent said that releasing the court dates doesn’t waive any rights Zimmerman has to have an immunity hearing, and indeed the defense may raise “Stand Your Ground” claims at trial. In addition, Zimmerman could seek immunity from civil claims at a later date.
“By entertaining the option of not having an immunity hearing before trial, George preserves the option of having a civil immunity hearing should he need it in the future,” Vincent said.
So the saga continues in the pursuit of justice for Trayvon Martin.