Zimmerman lawyer: No racial issue with client

(CBS News) The attorney hired to represent a neighborhood watch volunteer accused of fatally shooting a black teenager said there was no racial issue involved in the February 28 incident that left Trayvon Martin dead.

Appearing on "CBS This Morning: Saturday," attorney Craig Sonner said that he is currently representing George Zimmerman in an advisory position, as no formal charges have been brought in the case.

"There are facts that will come out as the investigation goes on," Sonner told Rebecca Jarvis. "Basically, Mr. Zimmerman claims he was attacked by Trayvon Martin and he was defending himself. That's the gist of the case at this moment."

When asked if there was any racial motivation to the confrontation between Zimmerman and Martin, Sonner replied, "I don't believe there's any racial motivation on the behalf of George Zimmerman. I have spoken with him on that issue. That's the issue that we wanted to address today, is that this was not a racial issue in what happened that day.

"I believe that there is sufficient evidence to show that Mr. Zimmerman was acting in self-defense. He has wounds, injuries to his face, to the back of his head. And I think the evidence will show that he was acting in self-defense, and that it was not racially motivated."

Trayvon Martin's father: "He saved my life"
Race and justice re-examined in Martin killing
Growing outcry over Trayvon Martin's death

Sonner also said that Zimmerman and his wife in the past have served as mentors to African-American youth. "He and his wife were mentors to a single mother with two, a 14-year-old son and a 13-year-old daughter. They were mentors to them, took them every couple weeks. What that program included was every other week, going for two or three hours going to the mall, to the science center, going to lunch, playing basketball, doing those types of things."

When asked by Jarvis if there was anything he wished to say to the parents of Trayvon Martin, Sonner said, "Well, the end result of this entire situation is a tragic thing, and my condolences for the loss of a child. I mean, there's nothing worse than the loss of a child, and my condolences to them."