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George Zimmerman, the 29-year-old former neighborhood watchcaptain who killed Martin last February, has waived his right to a“Stand Your Ground” hearing that was slated to begin in April.Zimmerman was expected to speak at next month’s hearing and tellthe court that the February 2012 killing of Martin in a centralFlorida gated community occurred because he was threatened by theunarmed teenager. Defense attorneys revealed on Tuesday, however,that Zimmerman will not request the hearing to occur asscheduled.Had Zimmerman convinced a judge that he acted in self-defense,he could have been let off the hook for the murder of Martin. Bywaiving his right to a “Stand Your Ground” hearing, though,Zimmerman will not attempt to have the charges dropped before acourt case scheduled to begin later this year.Under a controversial “Stand Your Ground” law in the state ofFlorida, a person is allowed to use deadly force if they believethat their life is threatened by another, even when retreat ispossible. If they are found to have been in compliance of the law,even an admitted killer could be given immunity and be absolved ofcharges. Now Zimmerman will have to stand trial for second-degreemurder unless his attorneys maneuver for a legal arrangement thatwill put him on the stand in the coming months.“George wants a jury of his peers to decide the case,”defense attorney Mark O’Mara told WESH News on Tuesday. “It’sgoing to be, I think, a more accepted result for everyone who hasto result that he gets an acquittal at trial even more so thanimmunity hearing by a judge.”Sean Vincent, a spokesperson for Zimmerman’s defense team, addedto NBC News that “By entertaining the option of not having animmunity hearing before trial, George preserves the option ofhaving a civil immunity hearing should he need it in thefuture.”Vincent goes on to note that although Zimmerman has waived hisright to the Stand Your Ground hearing, he isn’t releasing himselffrom being able to participate in any other immunity hearings andhe’ll still be able to argue self-defense during this summer’strial.According to NBC News, lead prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda saidhe was “bewildered” by O’Mara’s decision but did notelaborate any further. O’Mara told the Orlando Sentinel, “Ourreal focus is getting ready for the trial.”The trial against Zimmerman is slated to start on June 10. He isfacing the charge of second-degree murder for the February 26, 2012killing of Trayon Martin in Sanford, Florida. … Read More