George Zimmerman lawyer: "Fairly simple but tragic case of self-defense"
(CBS) The legal team for George Zimmerman is asking the public to withhold judgment about the fatal Trayvon Martin shooting pending a grand jury review of the case that begins next Tuesday.
Pictures: Trayvon Martin shooting
Attorney Craig Sonner told 'CBS This Morning' correspondent Anna Werner, "Everyone is jumping the gun, wait, everyone wait...and then let's see what happens."
New Zimmerman lawyer Hal Uhrig told CBS News there's been too much emphasis on race in discussions surrounding the deadly Feb. 26 shooting in Sanford, Fla.
"This is not a guy who has a racial bone in his body," Uhrig said. "Take out issues of race, take out political preferences and so forth, just look at the law and what actually happened - this was a fairly simple but tragic case of self-defense."
Sonner said Zimmerman, who is staying at an undisclosed location and hasn't been seen publicly since the shooting, is "very stressed. This whole incident he has taken it very heard. He's in hiding he can't show his face anywhere because of the death threats against him."
Zimmerman's father came to his defense last night on the "Sean Hannity Show," saying his son's story will stand up to an examination.
"Ninety-five percent of the facts that have been verified by Sanford, the city of Sanford, they say that George's story is consistent with every eyewitness account and every piece of evidence that they have," Robert Zimmerman said.
Earlier this week, Benjamin Crump, the attorney for Trayvon Martin's parents, asked the justice department to investigate why the Sanford police chief and a state prosecutor apparently dismissed the recommendation of lead detective Chris Serino who wanted to arrest George Zimmerman for manslaughter.
"How was this decision made? That's all they want to know, they want the right to have answers, because right now George Zimmerman is free and their son is in a grave," Crump said.
'CBS This Morning' correspondent Anna Werner contributed this report to Crimesider.
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