Zimmerman attorney: Concerned about client’s safety; he is stressed, tired

Mark O’Mara, George Zimmerman’s attorney, joins Starting Point with Soledad O’Brien to talk about the second degree murder charge brought against his client and his current state.

When O’Brien asks him if he’s trying get him out of jail, O’Mara responds, “I would like to get him out. I need him out to assist me in going over all the evidence and preparing our defense. I’m concerned about his safety to a certain extent, but I’m truly hoping that there will be a receding of the frustrations or anger now that the process is moving forward.”

When CNN Contributor Will Cain follows up with whether he’s worried for Zimmerman’s safety inside or outside of prison, O’Mara answers, “Outside of jail, I think. Seminole County Jail is doing a wonderful job handling him as a protective custody inmate, as they should. So I’m not concerned with that. There are certainly still some animosities and some high emotions around the case.”

On Zimmerman’s former attorneys saying that he has PTSD, O’Mara adds, “I’m not sure what happened between he and the other attorneys. A diagnosis like that should be made by a professional psychologist or psychiatrist. I’m not going to make a diagnosis like that. He is stressed. He’s tired. He’s been through a lot with the way this case has been handled to date. I’m just hoping that his mental health stays well and that we can move forward with getting the case figured out.”

Starting Point with Soledad O’Brien airs weekday mornings from 7-9am ET on CNN.