George Zimmerman waived his right Tuesday to a pretrial immunity hearing under the state's "stand your ground" law. The former neighborhood watch volunteer who says he shot and killed Trayvon Martin in self-defense says he wants a jury -- not a judge -- to decide his fate.

Zimmerman spoke for himself during a court hearing in Sanford. Afterward his attorney Mark O'Mara told reporters he hasn't ruled out bringing up "stand your ground" at trial.
"This case has taken on a huge significance well beyond the facts of the case", O'Mara said.

O'Mara also said Zimmerman's preference for a jury decision made a pretrial immunity hearing irrelevant.

"We want a jury to say that's non-guilt because maybe the country would listen to that better than they would listen to a judge", said O'Mara.

Martin family attorney Natalie Jackson said Zimmerman's decision vindicates protesters who rallied for his arrest in the weeks after the teen's death.

Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder. He faces trial in June.