The Trayvon Martin case took a bizarre turn Tuesday when George
Zimmerman's attorneys said they were dropping the neighborhood watch
captain as a client, complaining that they have lost contact with him
and that he called the prosecutor and talked to a TV host after they
told him not to speak to anyone.
The lawyers portrayed Zimmerman as erratic and his emotional state
as shaky, and they expressed fear for his mental and physical health
under the pressure that has been building in the month since he shot
and killed Martin, an unarmed black teenager.
"As of the last couple days he has not returned phone calls, text
messages or e-mails," attorney Craig Sonner said at a news conference
outside the courthouse. "He's gone on his own. I'm not sure what he's
doing or who he's talking to. I cannot go forward speaking to the
public about George Zimmerman and this case."
The split came as a special prosecutor neared a decision on whether to charge Zimmerman with a crime in the Feb. 26 shooting.
Sonner and colleague Hal Uhrig said they had not spoken with
Zimmerman since Sunday. Since then, they said, they had learned that he
spoke to special prosecutor Angela Corey's office and to Fox TV host
Sean Hannity without consulting them, in an attempt to give his side of
the shooting.
They said Corey refused to talk to Zimmerman without his attorneys' consent and Hannity wouldn't tell them what was discussed.
Zimmerman also set up his own website even as the lawyers were
creating one for him at his request. Zimmerman said on his website that
he wants "to ensure my supporters they are receiving my full attention
without any intermediaries." The site allows visitors to give Zimmerman
money for living expenses and legal bills.
Ben Crump, an attorney for Martin's family, said they are worried that Zimmerman might flee if he is charged.