Megan Stevens
Gregorgy (65) and Travis (35) McMichael and William Bryan (52) are on trial by grand jury in a Georgia state court on charges of felony murder, aggravated assault, and false imprisonment.
RECAP:
Court proceedings set to deliberate in November of 2021.
October 18, 2021 Glynn County, GA began the jury selection for the Arbery Murder Trial to try the three suspects (the McMichaels and Bryan) for his murder that took place on February 25, 2020 in Satilla Shores, GA.
November 3, 2021 The jury was seated after a 2 and a half selection deliberations. The panel is composed of 12: 11 white jurors and 1 black juror.
November 22, 2021 – Closing Arguments began on the Case Defense Attorney Jason Sheffield made closing arguments before the courts that there was no existing evidence that supports that Ahmaud Arbery was ever spotted exercising in Satilla Shores.
After neighborhood residents were questioned if they ever witnessed him exercising in hi the neighborhood, no eyewitnesses were notated.
Lead Prosecuting Attorney Linda Dunikoski revealed that the defendants, father and son, Gregory McMichael and Travis McMichael had no right to attempt a citizen’s arrest on Arbery.
The prosecutor made supporting arguments that the fact that The McMichael’s were both armed and were not witnesses to any criminal activity on behalf of Arbery their attempt of a citizen’s arrest were unlawful.
The father and son duo made claims to have had suspicions that Arbery was the suspect in a string of burglaries in the neighborhood. The alleged string of burglaries were later revealed to have never been reported.
Although Arbery was shot and killed by Travis McMichael, who both shot at the victim from the back of the pickup truck used in the chase that took place in the events that led up to the slaying of Arbery.
Defense Attorney Sheffield argued that according to law, citizens have rights to make a citizen’s arrest. In closing arguments, Sheffield also presented to the court that Travis feared that Arbery had a gun, he made mention that Travis had the option of waiting for the police, although the police weren’t noted to be previously called or to obtain the potential suspect himself, which is why he chose to try to detain him. Sheffield continued to ask the Jury to set aside their feelings when deliberating.
Defense Attorney, Kevin Gough, represents the third defendant, William “Roddie” Bryan also charged in the case. Mr. Bryan is charged in the case for his accomplice of hoping in his own pick-up truck and aiding in the chase of Arbery as well as filming the video of the final altercation and the shooting of Arbery by Travis McMichael.
Mr. Gough, defense attorney argued that though he was at the time of the chase and murder, he was not lawfully guilty to be charged with the murder of Arbery.
Around 5:16 p.m. (Est) the jurors were dismissed to return the following day at 8:30 a.m. to hear the remaining closing arguments.
After the recess, Arbery’s parents, Marcus Arbery and Wada Cooper-Jones, held a press conference along with the family attorney, Benjamin Crump.
During this conference the family expressed their discontent with the defense attorney’s attempts to dehumanize their son as a defensive strategy in the case.
Mrs. Jones spoke about how she is offended by how the defense talked negatively about her son when describing him to have both long legs and dirty toenails.
Africa Equity Media (AEM) will continue to keep readers updated on the progress of the case.
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