Ahmaud Arbery&#8217;s killers were found guilty on Tuesday on all federal hate crime charges against them.
Travis McMichael, 36, his father Gregory McMichael, 66, and their neighbor William &#8220;Roddie&#8221; Bryan, 52, were convicted on all counts in the federal hate crime trial of the three men, who were charged with violating Arbery&#8217;s civil rights.
All three men were found guilty of interference of rights and attempted kidnapping. The two McMichaels were also found guilty of a firearms charge, namely brandishing or discharging a firearm during a violent crime.
The three men are already serving life sentences for their murder convictions, but now they face additional sentences of up to life in prison for their federal hate crime convictions.
U.S. District Judge Lisa Wood sent the jury to start deliberating on Monday, and they returned a verdict Tuesday morning.
Wood said in court Tuesday that the prosecution had the &#8220;difficult task&#8221; of proving the &#8220;racial motivation of hate crimes&#8221; but did so successfully.
The verdict in the hate crimes case comes just a day before the second anniversary of Arbery&#8217;s death.
Arbery, a 25-year-old black man, was fatally shot in Glynn County, Georgia on Feb. 23, 2020, as he was walking through the Satilla Shores neighborhood.
During the trial, the jury watched video of Arbery roaming around a vacant property with a house under construction. In the moments after Arbery left the property, he was chased by three white male residents of the neighborhood. Travis McMichael and his father Gregory McMichael armed themselves with guns and pursued Arbery in a pickup truck after he ran past their yard, which was several houses down from the unfinished property. Bryan came out and followed Arbery in another car. Arbery then had a confrontation with Travis McMichael, who shot Arbery as he ran in front of the pickup truck.
A graphic viral video of Arbery&#8217;s killing catapulted the fatal shooting into the national spotlight. Arbery’s murder along with the killing of George Floyd and several other incidents of violence against black Americans contributed to sparking the racial justice protests, uprisings, and riots that erupted across the country in the summer of 2020.
All three men involved in Arbery&#8217;s killing were charged with murder and convicted in November.
Both McMichaels were found guilty of felony murder, aggravated assault with a firearm and with a pickup truck, false imprisonment, and criminal attempt to commit a felony. Travis McMichael was also found guilty of malice murder, but his father was found not guilty on that charge. Bryan was found guilty of felony murder, aggravated assault with a pickup truck, false imprisonment, and criminal attempt to commit a felony.
In January, Judge Timothy Walmsley sentenced both McMichaels to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The judge sentenced their neighbor Bryan to life in prison with the possibility of parole.
On Tuesday, the judge told the three men that they have 14 days to file appeals in the hate crimes case.
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Jury Selection Begins In Ahmaud Arbery Murder Trial

Ahmaud Arbery Killers Found Guilty In Federal Hate Crime Trial

Ahmaud Arbery

Hate Crime

Racism

A federal judge on Monday rejected the plea deal prosecutors had reached with one of Ahmaud Arbery&#8217;s killers for the hate crime charges he faces.
U.S. District Judge Lisa Wood in Georgia rejected a plea deal prosecutors reached with Travis McMichael, one of the three men convicted of Arbery&#8217;s murder.
&#8220;It is my decision to reject the plea agreement,&#8221; Wood said. &#8220;In this case, it is appropriate to hear at sentencing from all concerned, including the victim&#8217;s family.&#8221;
The plea deal involved McMichael being allowed to serve his hate crime sentence first, 30 years in a federal prison rather than a state one. Lawyers for Arbery&#8217;s family said a federal prison would allow the men to serve their sentences in better prison conditions.
By accepting the plea deal, McMichael would be admitting that he killed Arbery out of racial animus, prosecutors said, arguing that the admission was important for healing.
“I can’t say that 360 months is a precise &#8230; fair sentence in this case,&#8221; Wood said. &#8220;It could be more. It could be less. It could be that. But given the unique circumstances of this case and my desire to hear from all concerned regarding the sentencing before I pronounce sentence, I am not comfortable accepting the terms of the plea agreement.&#8221;
Arbery’s mother was reportedly angry by the plea deal for her son&#8217;s killers and urged the judge to reject it.
&#8220;Please listen to me,&#8221; Cooper-Jones said in court. &#8220;Granting these men their preferred conditions of confinement would defeat me. It gives them one last chance to spit in my face after murdering my son.&#8221;
Arbery, a 25-year-old black man, was fatally shot in Glynn County, Georgia on Feb. 23, 2020, as he was jogging through the Satilla Shores neighborhood.
During the trial, the jury watched video of Arbery roaming around a vacant property with a house under construction. In the moments after Arbery left the property, he was chased by three white male residents of the neighborhood. Travis McMichael, 35, and his father Gregory McMichael, 66, armed themselves with guns and pursued Arbery in a pickup truck after he ran past their yard, which was several houses down from the unfinished property. Their neighbor, William “Roddie” Bryan, 52, followed Arbery in another car. Arbery then had a confrontation with Travis McMichael, who shot Arbery as he ran in front of the pickup truck.
Arbery’s murder along with the killing of George Floyd and several other incidents of violence against African Americans contributed to sparking the racial justice protests, uprisings, and riots that erupted across the country in the summer of 2020.
All three men were charged with murder and convicted on November 24.
Both McMichaels were found guilty of felony murder, aggravated assault with a firearm and with a pickup truck, false imprisonment, and criminal attempt to commit a felony. Travis McMichael was also found guilty of malice murder, but his father was found not guilty on that charge.
Earlier this month, Judge Timothy Walmsley sentenced both Travis McMichael and his father Gregory McMichael to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Bryan was also found guilty of felony murder and several other charges and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

Trial Of Ahmaud Arbery Killers Continues In Brunswick, Georgia

Judge Rejects Plea Deal For Ahmaud Arbery Killer

Georgia

Two of the men convicted for killing Ahmaud Arbery have reportedly agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors working on the federal hate crime case against them.
NBC News <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/crime-courts/plea-deal-reached-two-ahmaud-arberys-murderers-hate-crimes-trial-rcna14157?utm_source=facebook&amp;utm_medium=news_tab">reported</a> that prosecutors filed noticed on Sunday to the U.S. District Court in Brunswick, Georgia, announcing the plea deals, though the details of those deals were not revealed. The outlet noted that the plea deals would have to be approved by the court, which could be influenced by Arbery’s parents, who are opposed to any sort of deal.
The filings related to Gregory McMichael and his son Travis, who chased down Arbery on February 23, 2020, and fatally shot him, claiming they believed he was the man responsible for a string of recent home burglaries in the area and that they were attempting a citizens’ arrest.
Arbery’s parents, Marcus Arbery and Wanda Cooper Jones said they were &#8220;vehemently against this deal,&#8221; believing it could mean the McMichaels would be able to serve their time for both cases in a “preferred” federal prison, NBC reported.
&#8220;This proposed plea is a huge accommodation to the men who hunted down and murdered Ahmaud Arbery,&#8221; the two said in their <a href="https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/crime/ahmaud-arbery/prosecutors-in-federal-hate-crimes-case-against-ahmaud-arberys-murderers-say-theyve-reached-plea-agreement/77-93000461-6282-47a2-b35e-309ca7ae70f3">statement</a>, which was obtained by WTLV.
The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-father-and-son-found-guilty-of-murder-of-ahmaud-arbery">reported</a> in November 2021 that the McMichaels were found guilty of felony murder as well as other charges:
<blockquote>A third defendant, William “Roddie” Bryan, was found not guilty on one count of felony murder but guilty on other counts of felony murder. 
Gregory McMichael, 65, Travis McMichael, 35 — who are father and son — and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-man-who-captured-footage-of-ahmaud-arberys-death-arrested">William “Roddie” Bryan</a>, 52 — a neighbor — were found guilty of various charges. In addition to felony murder, Travis McMichael was also found guilty of malice murder, aggravated assault, and false imprisonment.
Gregory McMichael was also found not guilty of malice murder, but guilty of felony murder, aggravated assault, and false imprisonment; Bryan was also found guilty of one count of aggravated assault as well as false imprisonment. </blockquote>
The men were convicted on January 7, 2022, The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/men-convicted-of-ahmaud-arberys-murder-sentenced">reported</a>. The McMichaels were sentenced to life I prison without the possibility of parole, while Bryan was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.
“During the trial, the jury watched video of Arbery roaming around a vacant property with a house under construction. In the moments after Arbery left the property, he was chased by three white male residents of the neighborhood. Travis McMichael, 35, and his father Gregory McMichael, 66, armed themselves with guns and pursued Arbery in a pickup truck after he ran past their yard, which was several houses down from the unfinished property. Bryan, 52, followed Arbery in another car. Arbery then had a confrontation with Travis McMichael, who shot Arbery as he ran in front of the pickup truck,” The Daily Wire reported.
Judge Timothy Walmsley, who sentenced the three men, made the courtroom sit in silence for one minute to put “into context” how long the men chased Arbery before ultimately killing him.
This article has been revised for clarity.

Jury Finds Three Men Guilty Of Killing Ahmaud Arbery

Two Of Ahmaud Arbery’s Killers Agree To Plea Deal On Federal Hate Crimes

Crime

Judge Timothy Walmsley, who sentenced the three men convicted of killing Ahmaud Arbery, made the courtroom sit in silence for one minute to put “into context” how long the men chased Arbery before ultimately killing him.
Insider <a href="https://www.insider.com/ahmaud-arbery-judge-makes-courtroom-sit-silence-sentencing-2022-1">reported</a> that Walmsley told the courtroom during sentencing on Friday that he would “sit quietly for one minute and that one minute represents a fraction of the time that Ahmaud Arbery was running&#8221; away from his killers.
In total, he said, Travis McMichael, Gregory McMichael, and William Bryan chased Arbery for a total of five minutes.
As The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/men-convicted-of-ahmaud-arberys-murder-sentenced">reported</a> on Friday, Walmsley “sentenced both Travis McMichael and his father Gregory McMichael to life in prison without the possibility of parole” and sentenced Bryan “to life in prison with the possibility of parole.” Bryan did not fatally shoot Arbery but did chase him and film the killing.
From The Daily Wire:
<blockquote>Arbery, a 25-year-old black man, was fatally shot in Glynn County, Georgia on Feb. 23, 2020, as he was walking through the Satilla Shores neighborhood.
During the trial, the jury watched video of Arbery roaming around a vacant property with a house under construction. In the moments after Arbery left the property, he was chased by three white male residents of the neighborhood. Travis McMichael, 35, and his father Gregory McMichael, 66, armed themselves with guns and pursued Arbery in a pickup truck after he ran past their yard, which was several houses down from the unfinished property. Bryan, 52, followed Arbery in another car. Arbery then had a confrontation with Travis McMichael, who shot Arbery as he ran in front of the pickup truck.
All three men were charged with murder and convicted on November 24.
Both McMichaels were found guilty of felony murder, aggravated assault with a firearm and with a pickup truck, false imprisonment, and criminal attempt to commit a felony. Travis McMichael was also found guilty of malice murder, but his father was found not guilty on that charge.
Bryan was found guilty of felony murder, aggravated assault with a pickup truck, false imprisonment, and criminal attempt to commit a felony. The jury found Bryan also not guilty of malice murder.</blockquote>
Walmsley said ahead of sentencing that he found “absolutely chilling” the point in the video where Travis McMichael lifted his shotgun up to kill Arbery.
“I’ve read somewhere, and I don’t remember where it was, that at a minimum, Ahmaud Arbery’s death should force us to consider expanding our definition of what a neighbor may be and how we treat them,” Walmsley said. “I argue that maybe a neighbor is more than the people who just own property around your house. I believe that assuming the worst in others we show our worst character.”
The three men convicted of killing Arbery argued during trial that they chased Arbery to make a citizen’s arrest following several break-ins in the neighborhood and that Arbery was shot in self-defense, even though they had been chasing Arbery.

Judge Who Sentenced Ahmaud Arbery Killers Made Courtroom Sit In Silence For 1 Minute To Show How Long Men Chased Him

Murder

A judge on Friday sentenced the three men convicted of murdering Ahmaud Arbery.
Judge Timothy Walmsley sentenced both Travis McMichael and his father Gregory McMichael to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Walmsley sentenced their neighbor William “Roddie” Bryan to life in prison with the possibility of parole.
Arbery, a 25-year-old black man, was fatally shot in Glynn County, Georgia on Feb. 23, 2020, as he was walking through the Satilla Shores neighborhood.
During the trial, the jury watched video of Arbery roaming around a vacant property with a house under construction. In the moments after Arbery left the property, he was chased by three white male residents of the neighborhood. Travis McMichael, 35, and his father Gregory McMichael, 66, armed themselves with guns and pursued Arbery in a pickup truck after he ran past their yard, which was several houses down from the unfinished property. Bryan, 52, followed Arbery in another car. Arbery then had a confrontation with Travis McMichael, who shot Arbery as he ran in front of the pickup truck.
All three men were charged with murder and convicted on November 24.
Both McMichaels were found guilty of felony murder, aggravated assault with a firearm and with a pickup truck, false imprisonment, and criminal attempt to commit a felony. Travis McMichael was also found guilty of malice murder, but his father was found not guilty on that charge.
Bryan was found guilty of felony murder, aggravated assault with a pickup truck, false imprisonment, and criminal attempt to commit a felony. The jury found Bryan also not guilty of malice murder.
Before the sentencing, the judge remarked that he found the part of the video of the shooting that showed Travis McMichael lifting the shotgun to kill Arbery &#8220;absolutely chilling.&#8221;
&#8220;I&#8217;ve read somewhere, and I don&#8217;t remember where it was, that at a minimum, Ahmaud Arbery&#8217;s death should force us to consider expanding our definition of what a neighbor may be and how we treat them,&#8221; Walmsley said. &#8220;I argue that maybe a neighbor is more than the people who just own property around your house. I believe that assuming the worst in others we show our worst character.&#8221;
Arbery&#8217;s murder along with the killing of George Floyd and several other incidents of violence against African Americans contributed to sparking the racial justice protests, uprisings, and riots that erupted across the country in the summer of 2020.
Prosecutors were seeking life without parole for the McMichaels and life with the possibility of parole for Bryan.
The three men argued during the trial that they were chasing Arbery to make a citizen’s arrest following several break-ins that had recently occurred in the area. Gregory McMichael told police that his son shot Arbery in self-defense after Arbery attempted to attack Travis McMichael.
The attorney for Gregory McMichael argued Friday that her client is a “man of goodness” who &#8220;never wanted another person to die.&#8221;
&#8220;If life without parole is a sentence that is held for only the worst of the worst, it simply can’t be a sentence for a person who never intended that tragic result that took place on Feb. 23,” attorney Laura Hogue told the judge.
Arbery&#8217;s mother&#8217;s attorney said Friday that prosecutors had asked her whether she would accept a plea deal for her son&#8217;s killers, and she declined.
The plea deal would have put the three men behind bars in federal prison for 30 years in addition to whatever additional prison time the state judge ordered Friday.
“These men have chose to lie and attack my son and his surviving family. They each have no remorse and do not deserve any leniency,&#8221; Wanda Cooper-Jones said Friday in her victim impact statement.
Arbery&#8217;s father, Marcus Arbery, also spoke Friday at the sentencing hearing and shared some of his heartbreak with the court.
&#8220;You know something that just does not sit right with me at this time? The man who killed my son has sat in this courtroom every single day next to his father. I&#8217;ll never get that chance to sit next to my son ever again — not at the dinner table, not at the holidays and not at a wedding,&#8221; he said Friday.

Lawyers Give Closing Arguments In Trial Of Ahmaud Arbery’s Killers

Men Convicted Of Ahmaud Arbery’s Murder Sentenced

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris pushed for more social justice work to be done after a jury convicted three men last week in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, saying that the convictions were not enough.
&#8220;Gregory McMichael, 65, Travis McMichael, 35 — who are father and son were found guilty of felony murder, aggravated assault, and false imprisonment,&#8221; The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-jury-reaches-verdict-in-ahmaud-arbery-murder-trial">reported</a> yesterday. &#8220;Separately, Travis McMichael was also found guilty of malice murder — a charge his father was found not guilty of. William ‘Roddie’ Bryan, 52 — a neighbor — was found not guilty on one count of felony murder, but guilty on other counts of felony murder, and also found guilty of aggravated assault and false imprisonment. He was found not guilty of malice murder. Each of the men had pleaded not guilty in court.”
In a statement, Biden said that the killing was &#8220;a devastating reminder of how far we have to go in the fight for racial justice in this country&#8221; and that the three men being convicted was &#8220;not enough&#8221;:
<blockquote>Ahmaud Arbery’s killing – witnessed by the world on video – is a devastating reminder of how far we have to go in the fight for racial justice in this country. Mr. Arbery should be here today, celebrating the holidays with his mother, Wanda Cooper Jones, and his father, Marcus Arbery. Nothing can bring Mr. Arbery back to his family and to his community, but the verdict ensures that those who committed this horrible crime will be punished.
While the guilty verdicts reflect our justice system doing its job, that alone is not enough. Instead, we must recommit ourselves to building a future of unity and shared strength, where no one fears violence because of the color of their skin. My administration will continue to do the hard work to ensure that equal justice under law is not just a phrase emblazoned in stone above the Supreme Court, but a reality for all Americans.</blockquote>
In a separate statement, Harris said that despite the verdict, it was a &#8220;fact&#8221; that &#8220;we still have work to do&#8221;:
<blockquote>Today, the jury rendered its verdicts and the three defendants were found guilty of murdering Ahmaud Arbery. Still, we feel the weight of grief. Ahmaud Arbery should be alive, and nothing can take away the pain that his mother Wanda Cooper-Jones, his father Marcus Arbery, and the entire Arbery family and community feel today. I share in that pain.
These verdicts send an important message, but the fact remains that we still have work to do. The defense counsel chose to set a tone that cast the attendance of ministers at the trial as intimidation and dehumanized a young Black man with racist tropes. The jury arrived at its verdicts despite these tactics.
Ahmaud Arbery was a son. He was a brother. He was a friend. His life had meaning. We will not forget him. We honor him best by continuing the fight for justice.</blockquote>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ahmaud-arberys-father-on-guilty-verdicts-all-lives-matter-not-just-black-children">Ahmaud Arbery’s Father On Guilty Verdicts: ‘All Lives Matter, Not Just Black Children’</a>

Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris

‘That Alone Is Not Enough’: Biden, Harris Push Racial Justice After 3 Convicted For Killing Ahmaud Arbery

Joe Biden

Kamala Harris

Marcus Arbery, the father of Ahmaud Arbery, who was shot and killed in Georgia last year by three men, reacted to the jury&#8217;s decision on Wednesday to convict the three men of murder by delivering a uniting message outside the courthouse: all lives matter.
&#8220;For real, all lives matter, not just black children, we don&#8217;t want to see nobody go through this,&#8221; Marcus Arbery said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to see no daddy watch their kid get [inaudible] or shot down like that.&#8221;
&#8220;So, it&#8217;s all our problem,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;It&#8217;s all our problem. So hey, let&#8217;s keep fighting and let&#8217;s keep doing it and making this place a better place for all human beings, all human beings, everybody. Love everybody. All human beings need to be treated equally.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Father of Ahmaud Arbery just now: “ALL lives matter. I don’t want no daddy to watch his kid get shot down like that. It’s ALL our problem. So let’s keep fighting to make this a better place for all human beings. Love everybody! All human beings need to be treated equally.” ❤️👏🏼👑 <a href="https://t.co/PlGwBeMlhU">pic.twitter.com/PlGwBeMlhU</a>
&mdash; Michael Shellenberger (@shellenberger) <a href="https://twitter.com/shellenberger/status/1463622238452678658?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Daily Wire reported:
<blockquote>Gregory McMichael, 65, Travis McMichael, 35 — who are father and son were found guilty of felony murder, aggravated assault, and false imprisonment. Separately, Travis McMichael was also found guilty of malice murder — a charge his father was found not guilty of. William “Roddie” Bryan, 52 — a neighbor — was found not guilty on one count of felony murder, but guilty on other counts of felony murder, and also found guilty of aggravated assault and false imprisonment. He was found not guilty of malice murder. Each of them men had pleaded not guilty in court. 
Lawyers for the McMichaels argued in court that they were pursuing a burglary suspect to perform a citizen’s arrest; a lawyer for Bryan argued that Bryan merely recorded the incident and his presence was entirely irrelevant to Arbery’s death. 
Although Arbery was killed in February 2020, the case drew national attention months later after a video of the fatal encounter was leaked to a local media station by an attorney with an informal connection to Bryan — an attempt to set the record straight. 
The video showed Arbery running down the street in the direction of a white pickup truck, where Gregory McMichael and Travis McMichael can be seen armed and waiting for Arbery. The duo has argued that they believed he was a suspect in a recent string of burglaries in the neighborhood. When Arbery approaches the truck, he goes around to the passenger’s side, and a struggle breaks out between him and Travis McMichael, who is holding a shotgun. Arbery is fatally shot in the encounter. …
The verdict brings an end to only one chapter of the case, which was tossed around from prosecutor to prosecutor due to conflicts of interest and pressure from Arbery’s mother. 
Jackie Johnson, the first prosecutor, was indicted in September for “showing favor and affection” to Gregory McMichael, who previously worked in her office. Although Johnson recused herself from the case within days of receiving it, before doing so, she sought advice about the case from George Barnhill, who would become the second prosecutor. Barnhill would later recuse himself at the request of Arbery’s mother, but not before telling the police department in a letter, in early April, that there was “insufficient probable cause to issue arrest warrants at this time.”</blockquote>
Related:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/neighbor-convicted-in-ahmaud-arbery-murder-will-seek-new-trial-says-attorney">Neighbor Convicted In Ahmaud Arbery Murder Will Seek New Trial, Says Attorney</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/man-who-fatally-shot-ahmaud-arbery-will-appeal-verdict-says-attorney">Man Who Fatally Shot Ahmaud Arbery Will Appeal Verdict, Says Attorney</a></li>
</ul>

US-POLITICS-RACE-UNREST

Ahmaud Arbery’s Father On Guilty Verdicts: ‘All Lives Matter, Not Just Black Children’

All Lives Matter

Travis McMichael will appeal his guilty verdict, his attorney said Wednesday, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/11/24/us/ahmaud-arbery-murder-trial">according</a> to The New York Times, in the hours after a jury found him guilty of malice murder and felony murder in the 2020 slaying of Ahmaud Arbery.
The murder trial, which came to a close on Wednesday, ended in Travis McMichael, Gregory McMichael — his father — and neighbor William &#8220;Roddie&#8221; Bryan receiving convictions for various charges, including felony murder, aggravated assault, and false imprisonment. The three each face up to life in prison, and will be sentenced at a later date.
Jason Sheffield, an attorney, said that Travis and his father &#8220;honestly&#8221; believed &#8220;what they were doing was the right thing to do,&#8221; according to The New York Times.
Unlike Travis McMichael, Bryan and Gregory McMichael were found not guilty of malice murder, a homicide with malice.
The younger McMichael made the case for himself during the trial when he took the stand in his own defense and said that he only shot Arbery after Arbery &#8220;had his gun.&#8221; Those crucial moments were recorded on video by Bryan — a video that played a large role in bringing national attention to the case and served as key evidence during the trial.
Attorneys for the McMichaels argued during closing arguments that they were pursuing Arbery to make a citizen’s arrest, believing him to be a burglary suspect. Prosecutors, on the other hand, say that on the day of the incident, the McMichaels never actually told police they were looking to perform a citizen’s arrest.
Kevin Gough, an attorney for Bryan, argued in court that his client&#8217;s presence was &#8220;absolutely superfluous and irrelevant to the tragic death of Ahmaud Arbery.&#8221; He also filed several motions for a mistrial during court, none of which were successful.
Gough said after the verdict was read that he would file a motion for a new trial next week.
After the judge read the verdict, Wanda Cooper-Jones, Arbery’s mother, said she “never” expected this day to come. “But God is good,” she said. “Thank you — thank you for those who marched, those who prayed.”
&#8220;The verdict today was a verdict based on the facts, based on the evidence, and that was our goal, was to bring that to that jury so that they could do the right thing, because the jury system works in this country,&#8221; said lead prosecutor Linda Dunikoski after the verdict was announced, <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/ahmaud-arbery-travis-mcmichael-trial-verdict-2021-11-24/">reports</a> CBS News. &#8220;And when you present the truth to people and they can see it, they will do the right thing, and that&#8217;s what this jury did today in getting justice for Ahmaud Arbery.&#8221;
Chris Carr, the Georgia Attorney General, released a statement after the verdict, saying it brings &#8220;us one step closer to justice, healing and reconciliation for Ahmaud’s family, the community, the state and the nation.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-father-and-son-found-guilty-of-murder-of-ahmaud-arbery">Father And Son Found Guilty Of Murder Of Ahmaud Arbery</a>

Man Who Fatally Shot Ahmaud Arbery Will Appeal Verdict, Says Attorney

An attorney for William &#8220;Roddie&#8221; Bryan — the neighbor who joined in the pursuit of Ahmaud Arbery before he was killed — said Wednesday afternoon that he will seek a new trial, following a jury&#8217;s decision to find his client guilty of felony murder.
“While we disagree with the verdict, we must respect it,&#8221; said attorney Kevin Gough, who represented Bryan in the case. According to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/11/24/us/ahmaud-arbery-murder-trial">The New York Times</a>, Gough said that he plans to file the motion for the new trial next week.
A lawyer for Travis McMichael separately told reporters that the father and son &#8220;honestly believe what they were doing was the right thing to do&#8221; and plan to appeal the guilty verdict, according to The Times.
The move comes after Bryan was found guilty of felony murder, aggravated assault, and false imprisonment in the death of Arbery, a 25-year-old Georgia man who was killed last year. Bryan was one of the three men who pursued Arbery the day he was shot, and the video he recorded was key both to bringing the case to public attention and to the trial itself.
The other two men, Gregory McMichael and Travis McMichael, who are father and son, were also found guilty of felony murder, aggravated assault, and false imprisonment on Wednesday. Travis, additionally, was found guilty of malice murder.
All three men face up to a maximum of life in prison.
Throughout the trial, Gough repeatedly sought mistrial motions, including this week as the jury was about to begin deliberating. On Monday, the attorney argued that the “figurative mob” had become a “literal mob&#8221; outside the courthouse. The judge denied the mistrial request, noting that security had not brought the circumstances outside the court to his attention.
Gough also drew attention to himself after he complained about the number of &#8220;black pastors&#8221; who were attending the trial — a comment that was, apparently, a response to Al Sharpton&#8217;s presence in the courtroom. The judge responded to Gough&#8217;s remarks by saying, “I can tell you this: I’m not going to start blanketly excluding members of the public from this courtroom.&#8221;
During closing arguments, Gough <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/defense-attorney-files-mistrial-motion-in-ahmaud-arbery-murder-trial">said</a> that Bryan was armed “only with a cell phone,&#8221; as The Daily Wire previously reported. “Roddie Bryan was not aware of any intention, and could not be a party to the crime of malice murder, because he can’t intentionally help commit a crime he doesn’t know is underway,” said Gough.
Bryan, along with Gregory McMichael, was ultimately found guilty of felony murder but not malice murder.
After the judge read the verdict, Wanda Cooper-Jones, Arbery&#8217;s mother, said she &#8220;never&#8221; expected this day to come. &#8220;But God is good,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Thank you — thank you for those who marched, those who prayed.”
Ben Crump, an attorney for the Arbery family, said: &#8220;Nothing will bring back Ahmaud, but his family will have some peace knowing the men who killed him will remain behind bars and can never inflict their brand of evil on another innocent soul.&#8221;

Neighbor Convicted In Ahmaud Arbery Murder Will Seek New Trial, Says Attorney

The jury in the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/father-and-son-charged-with-murder-for-death-of-ahmaud-arbery">Ahmaud Arbery</a> murder trial reached a verdict on Wednesday afternoon, finding Gregory McMichael and Travis McMichael guilty of felony murder. A third defendant, William &#8220;Roddie&#8221; Bryan, was found not guilty on one count of felony murder but guilty on other counts of felony murder. 
Gregory McMichael, 65, Travis McMichael, 35 — who are father and son — and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-man-who-captured-footage-of-ahmaud-arberys-death-arrested">William “Roddie” Bryan</a>, 52 — a neighbor — were found guilty of various charges. In addition to felony murder, Travis McMichael was also found guilty of malice murder, aggravated assault, and false imprisonment. 
Gregory McMichael was also found not guilty of malice murder, but guilty of felony murder, aggravated assault, and false imprisonment; Bryan was also found guilty of one count of aggravated assault as well as false imprisonment. 
Lawyers for the McMichaels argued in court that they were pursuing a man they believed to be a burglary suspect so that they could perform a citizen&#8217;s arrest. A lawyer for Bryan argued that Bryan merely recorded the incident and his presence was entirely irrelevant to Arbery’s death. He was armed &#8220;with a cell phone,&#8221; his attorney told the court. 
Kevin Gough, an attorney for Bryan, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/11/24/us/ahmaud-arbery-murder-trial">told</a> The New York Times after the verdict: “While we disagree with the verdict, we must respect it.&#8221; Gough, who repeatedly sought mistrial motions during the trial, also said he will file a motion for a new trial.
According to <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/11/24/ahmaud-arbery-murder-trial-verdict/8720260002/">USA Today</a>, Arbery&#8217;s mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, cried in the hallway of the courthouse after the verdict, saying, &#8220;we finally got justice.&#8221; Ben Crump, an attorney for the Arbery family, also responded to the verdict on social media.
&#8220;Nothing will bring back Ahmaud, but his family will have some peace knowing the men who killed him will remain behind bars and can never inflict their brand of evil on another innocent soul,&#8221; said Crump.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Nothing will bring back Ahmaud, but his family will have some peace knowing the men who killed him will remain behind bars and can never inflict their brand of evil on another innocent soul. <a href="https://t.co/PE2StvD4er">pic.twitter.com/PE2StvD4er</a>
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/AttorneyCrump/status/1463587423028490245?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The three men will be sentenced at a later date, and each faces up to a maximum of life in prison.
Although Arbery was killed in February 2020, the case drew national attention months later after a video of the fatal encounter was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/local-attorney-with-ties-to-suspects-says-he-leaked-video-of-ahmaud-arbery-shooting">leaked to a local media station</a> by an attorney with an informal connection to Bryan — an attempt to set the record straight. 
The video showed Arbery running down the street in the direction of a white pickup truck, where Gregory McMichael and Travis McMichael can be seen armed and waiting for Arbery. The duo argued that they believed he was a suspect in a recent string of burglaries in the neighborhood. When Arbery approaches the truck, he goes around to the passenger’s side, and a struggle breaks out between him and Travis McMichael, who is holding a shotgun. Arbery is fatally shot in the encounter. 
Arbery’s mother said she believed her son was jogging at the time he was pursued. During closing arguments at trial, prosecutor Linda Dunikoski argued that the McMichaels “made the decision to attack Ahmaud Arbery in their driveways because he was a Black man running down the street.”
In response to the case, Georgia repealed its citizen&#8217;s arrest law.
During the trial, Travis McMichael <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/travis-mcmichael-man-who-shot-ahmaud-arbery-testifies-in-court-i-shot-him-he-had-my-gun">took the stand</a> to explain his actions, saying he wanted to give &#8220;my side of the story.&#8221;
The younger McMichael recalled seeing Arbery in the neighborhood a couple of weeks before the shooting, at night, and said the man tried to hide from him. “He comes out and pulls up his shirt, and goes to reach in his pocket or waistband area,” Travis McMichael told the court. He added, “It freaked me out.&#8221;
Hours before the verdict was reached, the jury asked the court to replay the video of the fatal encounter as well as the 9-1-1 call made by Gregory McMichael before the shooting. Most of the 9-1-1 call was filled with silence, although at the beginning of it, the elder McMichael could be heard shouting his son’s name. Travis had also made a 9-1-1 call, moments earlier. 
When recalling the shooting at trial, Travis McMichael said he shot Arbery because he &#8220;had my gun.&#8221;
&#8220;He struck me, it was obvious that he was … attacking me, that if he [would] have [gotten] the shotgun from me, then it was a … life or death situation,&#8221; said Travis McMichael.
The verdict brings an end to only one chapter of the case, which was tossed around from prosecutor to prosecutor due to conflicts of interest, pressure from Arbery&#8217;s mother, and its growing size. 
Jackie Johnson, the first prosecutor in the case, was indicted in September for violating her oath of office and obstructing a law enforcement officer. According to the indictment, she also showed &#8220;favor and affection&#8221; to Gregory McMichael, who previously worked in her office, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/02/us/jackie-johnson-indicted-ahmaud-arbery.html">reports</a> The New York Times. 
Although Johnson recused herself from the case within days of receiving it, before doing so, she sought advice about the case from George Barnhill, who would later become the second prosecutor. Barnhill, whose son worked in Johnson&#8217;s office, would later <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fourth-prosecutor-takes-ahmaud-arbery-case-after-third-prosecutor-steps-down">recuse himself</a> at the request of Arbery’s mother, but not before telling the police department in a letter, in early April, that there was “insufficient probable cause to issue arrest warrants at this time.” The McMichaels were arrested the following month, within 36 hours of the Georgia Bureau of Investigations taking over the case file, as The Daily Wire previously reported. 
Johnson faces up to five years for violating her oath of office, and up to 12 months for obstructing and hindering a law enforcement officer, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/03/us/ahmaud-arbery-jackie-johnson-indicted/index.html">according</a> to CNN. The former charge is a felony, while the latter charge is a misdemeanor.
This is a developing story; refresh the page for updates.

Father And Son Found Guilty Of Murder Of Ahmaud Arbery

The jury in the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/father-and-son-charged-with-murder-for-death-of-ahmaud-arbery">Ahmaud Arbery</a> murder trial reached a verdict on Wednesday afternoon, two days after the deliberations in the high-profile killing began. 
Gregory McMichael, 65, Travis McMichael, 35 — who are father and son were found guilty of felony murder, aggravated assault, and false imprisonment. Separately, Travis McMichael was also found guilty of malice murder — a charge his father was found not guilty of. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-man-who-captured-footage-of-ahmaud-arberys-death-arrested">William “Roddie” Bryan</a>, 52 — a neighbor — was found not guilty on one count of felony murder, but guilty on other counts of felony murder, and also found guilty of aggravated assault and false imprisonment. He was found not guilty of malice murder. Each of them men had pleaded not guilty in court. 
Lawyers for the McMichaels argued in court that they were pursuing a burglary suspect to perform a citizen&#8217;s arrest; a lawyer for Bryan argued that Bryan merely recorded the incident and his presence was entirely irrelevant to Arbery’s death. 
Although Arbery was killed in February 2020, the case drew national attention months later after a video of the fatal encounter was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/local-attorney-with-ties-to-suspects-says-he-leaked-video-of-ahmaud-arbery-shooting">leaked to a local media station</a> by an attorney with an informal connection to Bryan — an attempt to set the record straight. 
The video showed Arbery running down the street in the direction of a white pickup truck, where Gregory McMichael and Travis McMichael can be seen armed and waiting for Arbery. The duo has argued that they believed he was a suspect in a recent string of burglaries in the neighborhood. When Arbery approaches the truck, he goes around to the passenger’s side, and a struggle breaks out between him and Travis McMichael, who is holding a shotgun. Arbery is fatally shot in the encounter. 
Arbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, said after the killing that she believed her son was jogging at the time he was pursued. During closing arguments at trial, prosecutor Linda Dunikoski argued that the McMichaels “made the decision to attack Ahmaud Arbery in their driveways because he was a Black man running down the street.”
Hours before the verdict was reached, the jury asked the court to replay the video of the fatal encounter as well as the 9-1-1 call made by Gregory McMichael before the shooting. Most of the 9-1-1 call was filled with silence, although at the beginning of it, the elder McMichael could be heard shouting his son’s name. Travis had also made a 9-1-1 call, moments earlier. 
The verdict brings an end to only one chapter of the case, which was tossed around from prosecutor to prosecutor due to conflicts of interest and pressure from Arbery&#8217;s mother. 
Jackie Johnson, the first prosecutor, was indicted in September for “showing favor and affection” to Gregory McMichael, who previously worked in her office. Although Johnson recused herself from the case within days of receiving it, before doing so, she sought advice about the case from George Barnhill, who would become the second prosecutor. Barnhill would later <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fourth-prosecutor-takes-ahmaud-arbery-case-after-third-prosecutor-steps-down">recuse himself</a> at the request of Arbery’s mother, but not before telling the police department in a letter, in early April, that there was “insufficient probable cause to issue arrest warrants at this time.”
The McMichaels were charged with murder in early May; Bryan was arrested weeks later.
This is a developing story; refresh the page for updates.

Jury Reaches Verdict In Ahmaud Arbery Murder Trial

A jury of Georgia residents is deciding whether to convict three men in the 2020 death of Ahmaud Arbery, the 25-year-old man who was pursued through a neighborhood and confronted on suspicion of being a robbery suspect but whose family says he was jogging.
Closing arguments concluded on Tuesday, with prosecutor Linda Dunikoski arguing that Arbery was unjustifiably pursued, blocking any claims to self-defense. “Who started this? It wasn’t Ahmaud Arbery,&#8221; she said.
The suspects, Gregory McMichael, Travis McMichael, and William &#8220;Roddie&#8221; Bryan, have pleaded not guilty to charges of felony murder, aggravated assault, and false imprisonment. The McMichaels, the defense attorneys say, were seeking to perform a citizen&#8217;s arrest; Bryan, his attorney says, was merely armed with a cell phone.
“Roddie Bryan was not aware of any intention, and could not be a party to the crime of malice murder, because he can’t intentionally help commit a crime he doesn’t know is underway,” said defense attorney Kevin Gough.
The trial gained national attention last year after the cell phone video Bryan recorded was leaked to a local media outlet, by an attorney who informally consulted with him, purportedly to set the record straight.
The video shows Arbery running down the street, in the direction of a white pickup truck. Gregory McMichael and Travis McMichael, who are father and son, can be seen waiting at the truck, armed. When Arbery approaches the truck, he goes around the passenger side, and a struggle begins between Arbery and Travis McMichael, who is holding a shotgun. Arbery is shot in the physical confrontation between them and is killed.
“All three of these defendants made assumptions about what was going on that day,” <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/11/22/us/ahmaud-arbery-murder-trial">said</a> lead prosecutor Linda Dunikoski. “And they made their decision to attack Ahmaud Arbery in their driveways, because he was a Black man running down the street.”
Notably, the law in Georgia at the time required someone to be in “immediate knowledge” of a crime to perform a citizen’s arrest. The law was repealed in light of the Ahmaud Arbery shooting.
“You are allowed to defend yourself. You are allowed to use force that is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury if you believe it’s necessary,” Jason Sheffield, a defense attorney for Travis McMichael, <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/11/22/1057937318/ahmaud-arbery-mcmichael-bryan-updates-closing-arguments">told</a> the jury during closing arguments. “At that moment Travis believed it was necessary. This is a law that is for a person in Travis’s situation.”
Wanda Cooper, Arbery&#8217;s mother, has said that she believes her son was jogging when he was pursued and killed. On Tuesday, she lauded the lead prosecutor for doing a thorough job, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/ahmaud-arbery-killing-trial-updates-11-23-21/index.html">reports</a> CNN.
&#8220;She presented the evidence again very well. I do think that we will come back with a guilty verdict, and I want to leave with this: God has brought us this far, and he&#8217;s not going to fail us now. We will get justice for Ahmaud,&#8221; she said

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