With all the media coverage surrounding the Trayvon Martin case, many are asking if it will be possible for George Zimmerman to have a fair trial. The defense in the case has asked for the judge to be removing because of a potential conflict of interest. Trayvon Martin's parents, Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, along with their attorney Benjamin Crump talk with Rev. Al Sharpton.
By Sevil Omer, msnbc.com
The lawyer for George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer charged with killing Trayvon Martin, has asked the judge in the case to step down, citing a potential conflict of interest.
NBC News confirmed that Zimmerman's lawyer, Mark O'Mara, filed the request on Monday to disqualify Judge Jessica J. Recksiedler in Seminole County Circuit Court.
"What I don't want to happen is to wait a month or two then what we find out is a potential conflict is an actual conflict," O'Mara told reporters during a press conference in Orlando, the Orlando Sentinel reported.
O’Mara said he met with Zimmerman on Monday and talked about asking for a new judge, according to the Sentinel.
Recksiedler's potential conflict involves her husband, who works with Orlando attorney Mark NeJame. NeJame currently works for CNN as an analyst on the Zimmerman case, according to the Sentinel.
Zimmerman was charged last week with second-degree murder in Trayvon Martin's shooting death on Feb. 26. Zimmerman, 28, is pleading not guilty, saying it was self-defense. Martin, 17, was unarmed.
Tough for Zimmerman to get fair trial, defense attorneys say
Also on Monday, Reuters reported that Zimmerman’s neighbors say he had bandages on his nose and head the day after he shot Martin, supporting statements by Zimmerman that he was beaten in a confrontation with the Florida teen. The neighbors spoke to Reuters on Sunday and Monday, saying they felt they owed him their public support after he was charged with second-degree murder.
Public doubts had been raised after the release of a grainy surveillance video from the police station in which no injuries were readily visible.
Currently, all court documents on the case are kept secret, according to NBC News. Lawyers on behalf of Florida have contested the sealing of documents.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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