George Zimmerman hires 2nd lawyer

Neighborhood Watch leader shot, killed Trayvon Martin in Sanford

ORLANDO, Fla. – George Zimmerman has hired a second attorney who will work alongside his first lawyer, Craig Sonner.

Defense attorney Hal Uhrig has been practicing for more than 30 years in the Orlando area. He said that he feels comfortable that the evidence surrounding the shooting of Trayvon Martin does not support an indictment of Zimmerman.

"Understand those people are now under incredible social pressure, they're being told there's going to be riots in the street if 'you don't give us the justice with the conclusion we want,'" Uhrig said.

Uhrig says a lot of evidence has not been released to the public.

"Believe me when the facts come out we're going to see, that it was a tragic night but George Zimmerman acted in self defense," Uhrig said.

He said Sonner is still the lead counsel, but he said he joined the team and brought his firm along, with their resources and staff.

"We're both representing him," Uhrig told Local 6. "If there are charges filed, we'll both be representing him after that."

Uhrig says right now he's hoping for two things: that Zimmerman is not indicted, and that there are "no racial riots" following that decision. He said that Revs. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson have made the case more volatile.

"The Rev. Al Sharpton band comes to town and they do their fundraising activities by way of rallies and they become relevant by creating racial strife where there is none," Uhrig said. "And they turn an unfortunate incident of self defense into a racial case."

Zimmerman's lawyers said they haven't met Zimmerman in person.

Zimmerman, 28, a Neighborhood Watch leader, shot and killed Martin, 17, in a gated Sanford community in late February.

Zimmerman claimed self-defense and was not arrested, with authorities citing Florida's "stand your ground" law, which allows anyone to meet "force with force."

Zimmerman claims Martin attacked him after he reported him as suspicious to police, who told Zimmerman that he did not need to be following the teen.

The lack of an arrest in the shooting death has sparked marches, rallies and protests across the country.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.


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