Attorneys for George Zimmerman are seeking a “Stand Your Ground” hearing to present, what they call, “clear support for a strong claim of self-defense,” according to a statement posted on his personal site on Thursday.
Defense attorney Mark O’Mara wrote, “The primary focus of a ‘stand your ground’ hearing is whether George Zimmerman reasonably believed that his use of his weapon was necessary to prevent great bodily harm to himself at the hands of Trayvon Martin.”
Zimmerman’s defense team is hoping that the controversial Florida law will dismiss the 28-year-old from second-degree murder charges.
According to the Associated Press, the hearing won’t likely take place for another several months. Under Florida law Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester can dismiss the charges if Zimmerman proves he reasonably believed he might have suffered great bodily harm by Martin. If the “Stand Your Ground” law is proven to apply, the case would never make it to trail and Zimmerman would be a free man.
The New York Daily News reports that the hearing would function as a mini trail. The burden of proof would lie on the defense, rather than the prosecution, and the judge would determine the outcome instead of the jury.
Zimmerman shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in February. 