George Zimmerman will turn himself in to authorities in the event that he is charged with a crime in the shooting death of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin, his defence lawyer, Craig Sonner, said yesterday.
“If he’s charged, he will be arrested and he will turn himself in. However it goes, he’s not hiding from the authorities. If he is asked, he will turn himself in. There’s not going to be a manhunt or anything like that,” Sonner said. Zimmerman, a neighbourhood watch volunteer in Sanford, Florida, shot Martin dead on February 26th, saying he had acted in self defence. Police released him without charge, saying there was no evidence to contradict his story that he was attacked by the 17-year-old.
The case has riveted the country, prompting demonstrations in numerous cities demanding Zimmerman be arrested. Critics believe Zimmerman, who is half white and half Hispanic, racially profiled Martin in deciding to follow him, and that race played a role in police backing his version of events. – (Reuters)