Zimmerman waives 'Stand Your Ground' defense — for now

NBC NEWS - Prosecutors want to know whether George Zimmerman, charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin, plans to seek immunity under Florida’s 'stand your ground' self-defense law...

Adam Howard

Apr 30, 2013

George Zimmerman, charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin, waived his right Tuesday to seek immunity under Florida’s “stand your ground” self-defense law before his June trial.

His lawyers have said they may seek immunity later.

Zimmerman, who has pleaded not guilty, is a former neighborhood watch volunteer of white and Hispanic descent who has maintained he shot Martin on Feb. 26, 2012, in self-defense after Martin attacked him.

The “stand your ground” law says people do not have to retreat if they believe they are in imminent danger of being killed or badly injured.

Kendall Coffey, a former federal prosecutor in Florida and an NBC News legal analyst, said before the hearing that it would be “very strategic” for the defense to waive the self-defense claim before trial.

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