Zimmerman lawyer: ‘Shaken baby syndrome’ defense for Trayvon Martin shooting

George Zimmerman's new attorney, Hal Uhrig

An attorney for George Zimmerman used an unusual defense to try and explain what happened the fateful night in February when Trayvon Martin was shot and killed — shaken baby syndrome.

In an appearance on CBS This Morning on Friday, lawyer Hal Uhrig compared infant abuse to what Zimmerman claims the 17-year-old Martin did to him.

“We’re familiar with the shaken baby syndrome,” said Uhrig. “You shake a baby, the brain shakes around inside the skull. You can die when someone’s pounding your head into the ground.”

Zimmerman claims that after reporting Martin to the police because he appeared “suspicious,” Martin attacked Zimmerman on the way back to his SUV, punching him in the nose and slamming his head into the ground. Zimmerman then shot and killed Martin, in an act he claims was self-defense.

According to Reuters, Uhrig did not further elaborate on any of Zimmerman’s injuries, including whether or not he had suffered similar symptoms to shaken baby syndrome such as bleeding in the brain, bleeding into the retina of the eye, or brain swelling. Paramedics at the scene treated Zimmerman’s injuries before clearing him to be taken into police custody.

While Zimmerman was not formerly arrested or charged with a crime, public outcry demanding his arrest likely prompted Zimmerman to assemble a defense team, including veteran criminal defense attorney Uhrig.

“He didn’t commit any crime,” said Uhrig. “He was attacked, broke his nose, hit his head into the ground and he defended himself. That’s not against the law.”

Earlier in the week, Uhrig denied claims that racism played a part in the shooting.

“They turned it into a racial event when it never was one,” Uhrig said, appearing on Fox News.