Joe Burbank / Pool via Getty Images
George Zimmerman, left, listens to jury consultant Robert Hirschhorn in Seminole circuit court on June 19, in Sanford, Fla.
By James Novogrod and Tracy Connor, NBC News
George Zimmerman's parents were in a Florida courtroom Wednesday to "visibly advocate" for the former neighborhood watch volunteer charged with second-degree murder in the death of Trayvon Martin.
Robert and Gladys Zimmerman have not previously attend jury selection, which began June 10, because they have received death threats and have been taking care of an elderly relative with Alzheimer's, their older son, Robert Zimmerman Jr., said in a statement emailed to NBC News.
?Despite safety considerations, the time was right to do what they could to visibly advocate for George's innocence,? the statement said.
"Going forward, security and other concerns are paramount and our periodic absence from court should not be misinterpreted as a withdrawal of support.?
The parents were joined by their daughter, Gracie, as prosecutors and defense lawyers began trying to winnow down a pool of 40 potential jurors to a panel of six.
Assistant State Attorney Bernie de la Rionda asked the pool if any of them had been victims of a crime, and 14 said they had. Four of those said they had been victims of violent crime, and one said she would not be able to put aside her own experience.
"It's very similar," the woman said of the crime, without providing further details. "It's always on my mind."
The jurors were also asked about firearms, and more than two dozen said they either own guns, are associated with gun owners, or have had some experience with guns.
Zimmerman, 29, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder for shooting Martin, 17, during a confrontation in Sanford, Fla., on the night of Feb. 26, 2012. He says that the unarmed teen attacked him and he fired his gun in self-defense.
Robert Zimmerman Jr.'s statement said his family believes his account.
"We are all sympathetic to the tragic reality of outliving a son or daughter, however ... George acted in self-defense, self-defense should not be criminalized & we stand by George because he told the truth," it said.
Zimmerman's wife, Shellie, has appeared in court several times during jury selection. She faces perjury charges in a separate case for allegedly misrepresenting the couple's financial picture during an April 2012 bond hearing. She has pleaded not guilty.
Martin's parents have regularly attended the proceedings.?
Editor?s note: George Zimmerman has sued NBCUniversal for defamation. The company has strongly denied his allegations.
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