Greg, Travis McMichael asks district court for judgement of acquittal in federal trial
Greg and Travis McMichael, the white father and son who were convicted of committing a racially motivated hate crime in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man, have asked a federal judge to overrule the jury’s guilty verdicts.
‘I see his execution in my mind over and over’: Family shares grief as Arbery’s killers sentenced to life
Before a judge determines Friday whether the three men convicted in the 2020 killing of Ahmaud Arbery will be given the possibility of parole for their mandatory life sentences, Arbery’s family shared with the court how his murder has impacted their lives.
Defense attorney: McMichaels ‘honestly believe that what they were doing was the right thing’
After about 10 hours of deliberations, jurors on Wednesday convicted the three white men charged in the death of Ahmaud Arbery, the Black man who was chased and fatally shot while running through their Georgia neighborhood.
Black pastors lead hundreds in rally to support Ahmaud Arbery’s family in Glynn County
As the man who fatally shot Ahmaud Arbery returned to the witness stand Thursday morning, more than 100 faith leaders from around the country planned to rally outside the Glynn County Courthouse in support of Arbery’s family.
Could controversial comments by defense attorney in Arbery case be part of a bigger legal strategy?
The defense attorney for one of the three men charged in the death of Ahmaud Arbery is again being scrutinized for his concern that the presence of Black pastors in the courtroom could influence the jury.
Defendant’s lawyer apologizes in court for remarks about Black pastors
Attorney Kevin Gough, who represents one of three Glynn County men on trial for murder in the February 2020 death of Ahmaud Arbery, addressed the court Friday, apologizing for comments he made the day before about “Black pastors” in the courtroom.
Defense attorney in Arbery slaying trial tells judge: ‘We don’t want any more Black pastors coming in here’
Defense attorneys on Thursday told Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley that high-profile pastors such as the Rev. Al Sharpton in the courtroom on behalf of the family of Ahmaud Arbery are intimidating and an unconscious attempt to pressure the jury.
Testimony: Ahmaud Arbery slaying defendant changed his story
Jurors were shown graphic, closeup police photos Monday of the gunshot wounds that killed Ahmaud Arbery, while the first officer to find the 25-year-old Black man bleeding in the road testified he did not try to render medical aid because it would not have been safe.
One Black juror, 11 whites to hear trial over Arbery slaying
A Georgia judge ruled Wednesday that he’ll seat one Black juror and 11 whites to decide the trial of the men who chased and killed Ahmaud Arbery, despite prosecutors’ objections that several Black potential jurors were cut because of their race.
Ahmaud Arbery’s mother working to keep promise to son one year after his death
SATILLA SHORES, Ga. – One year after Ahmaud Arbery, 25, was chased and fatally shot while running in a Southeast Georgia neighborhood, his mother is still working to keep a promise she made to her son at his funeral. McMichael told investigators he went into his house to get his son, Travis McMichael. Within a day of taking over, the GBI announced the arrest of Travis and Greg McMichael for the murder of Ahmaud Arbery. In May 2020, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr requested the GBI open an investigation into the prosecutors who first handled the Arbery case. AdSince the arrests, the Georgia attorney general has appointed the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office to take over the prosecution of the case.
New body cam footage reveals moments after Ahmaud Arbery shooting
Newly obtained body camera footage shows one of the men accused in the death of Ahmaud Arbery admitting to repeatedly trying to block the 25-year-old from getting away. In the interview recorded on body camera, Bryan gave investigators the video of the shooting filmed on his cell phone. I don’t know.”Travis McMichael, Greg McMichael and Bryan are all indicted on felony murder charges in the February killing of Arbery. The body camera footage also captures the investigators attempting to interview Travis McMichael in the minutes following the shooting. I had nothing to do,” Travis McMichael told investigators on body camera footage.
Father, son accused in Ahmaud Arbery’s death pose risk of influencing witnesses, obstructing justice: Judge
A judge outlines in a court document why he denied bond for the father and son charged in the death of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery. RELATED: What we learned during two-day bond hearing for father, son accused of killing Ahmaud ArberyAnother example cited in the court document is that Greg McMichael attempted to contact current Brunswick District Attorney Jackie Johnson after the shooting. Johnson is Greg McMichael’s former boss. Greg McMichael worked as an investigator in her office for more than 20 years before retiring. “Greg McMichael is heard stating to a third party ‘no good deed goes unpunished’ when referencing the shooting and killing of Arbery,” the document says.
Man accused in Ahmaud Arbery’s death tried to send encoded message from jail, records show
Jail administrators at the Glynn County Detention Center noticed something weird on June 25: a postcard from one of the inmates with an indecipherable code on the back of the message. Glynn County jail administrators intercepted this letter and handed it off to the FBI. (Provided to WJXT)Frank Hogue, the attorney for Greg McMichael, said the postcard amounts to gibberish and wasn’t an attempt to send a secret message. In an interview with FBI investigators, jail administrators said about the postcard that “the writing -- the content of the postcard wasn’t from a friend or the mother. Mr. McMichael had not used the kiosk to view the handbook when he sent a postcard to a neighbor using the neighbor’s first initial, middle initial and last name.
What we learned during two-day bond hearing for father, son accused of killing Ahmaud Arbery
Please call me as soon as you can,” Greg McMichael said in the voicemail. Greg McMichael worked as an investigator in her office for more than 20 years before retiring. “He makes frequent trips into the neighborhood and gets caught on video camera breaking into places, and nobody’s been able to catch him. Travis McMichael is a father to a 4-year-old and a former Coast Guard member. A longtime friend of Travis McMichael, Ashley Langford, said Travis McMichael prayed for Arbery’s mother in the days following the shooting.
Judge denies bond for father, son in killing of Ahmaud Arbery
Travis McMichael, 34, and his father, Gregory McMichael, 64, have been held since their arrests in May, more than two months after Arbery was slain. They also contended Travis McMichael was defending himself when he blasted Arbery three times with a shotgun. COVERAGE OF AHMAUD ARBERY CASE: Timeline of killing, prosecution | Witness heard racial slur after killing | Not first time Glynn County hesitated to arrest one of their ownDelayed justice? Arbery can be seen grappling with Travis McMichael over the shotgun and punching him before being shot at point-blank range. Arbery can be seen grappling with Travis McMichael over the shotgun and punching him before being shot at point-blank range.
Protesters chant ‘no bond’ for men jailed in death of Ahmaud Arbery
BRUNSWICK, Ga. – Protestors on Wednesday at the Glynn County Courthouse demanded the three men accused of murder in the death of Ahmaud Arbery stay in jail. Dozens of demonstrators – led by Arbery’s family – marched through the streets of downtown Brunswick yelling “no bond” for the men: Gregory McMichael, 64, Travis McMichael, 34, and William “Roddie” Bryan. Demonstrators are marching through the streets surrounding the Glynn County courthouse demanding "no bond" for the three men accused of murdering #AhmaudArbery. RELATED: 3 men indicted on felony murder charges in death of Ahmaud ArberyCourt records allege Travis McMichael made a threatening Facebook post regarding thefts in the Satilla Shores neighborhood before the deadly shooting. In a bombshell admission during the pretrial hearing, a GBI investigator testified that Travis McMichael was overheard using a racial slur at Arbery immediately after shooting Arbery, but before Glynn County police officers arrived.
Activists call for removal of district attorneys over Ahmaud Arbery case
BRUNSWICK, Ga. – Activists are demanding Georgia’s governor remove two embattled Southeast Georgia district attorneys in the wake of the handling of the Ahmaud Arbery investigation. Brian Kemp to remove Brunswick District Attorney Jackie Johnson and Waycross District Attorney George Barnhill. The Brunswick News reported that the Glynn County Supervisor of Elections said the board will not appeal the decision. Arbery’s killingThe controversy over the district attorneys caught fire after the shooting death of Arbery, who was killed Feb. 23 while jogging in a Glynn County neighborhood. Greg McMichael told police he suspected Arbery was a burglar and that Arbery attacked his son before being shot.
Attorneys for father, son charged in Ahmaud Arbery case file motions for bond
Court documents obtained Thursday by News4Jax show that attorneys for the father and son charged in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery have filed motions for bond. Greg McMichael and Travis McMichael are charged with murder in the shooting death of Arbery, 25, as he jogged through the Satilla Shores neighborhood. A third man, William Roddie Bryan, is also charged with murder. All three were formally charged in July in connection with the case and each entered a not guilty plea. On Thursday, attorneys for both men filed separate motions.
Georgia voters will decide fate of Glynn County Police Department
GLYNN COUNTY, Ga. Georgia voters will soon have a say on abolishing the scandal-plagued Glynn County Police Department thats been talked about for months. Brian Kemp has vetoed a bill that allows another bill to move forward to put the referendum on the November ballot. The bill that was vetoed -- Senate Bill 504 -- would create a nonbinding advisory referendum on whether to abolish the department and hand its law enforcement responsibilities back to the elected county sheriff in unincorporated parts of the coastal Georgia county. If approved, the binding referendum in Senate Bill 509 would automatically abolish the Glynn County Police Department and transfer the functions and assets of the department to the Sheriff of Glynn County. Because the presence of two similar ballot questions could lead to voter confusion, I veto Senate Bill 504.According to the bill, the stronger, binding referendum will be put before voters on Election Day.
Mother of Ahmaud Arbery: Pass a hate crime law in Georgia
BRUNSWICK, Ga. The mother of Ahmaud Arbery, a black man who was chased and killed in Georgia while out on a jog, is calling for Georgia lawmakers to pass a hate crime law in response to her sons death and other hate-inspired crimes in the state. To me, this was clearly a hate crime, but Georgia is one of four states in the country without a hate crime law," Cooper-Jones said. The GBI investigator also said he had seen many other examples of Travis McMichael using the n-word on social media. Lee Merritt, attorney for Arbery family, said the new evidence should be instructive to the FBI investigation into federal hate crime charges. Last year, Georgia State House moved in the right direction, passing House Bill 426, which will impose harsher sentencing for hate crimes.
GBI testimony reveals new details about what happened the day Ahmaud Arbery was killed
The lead investigator for the Ahmaud Arbery GBI investigation testified during the preliminary hearing Thursday. GBI investigator details evidence collected following the death of Ahmaud Arbery. Mr. Bryan made statements that he continues to try to block in Mr. Arbery. “He sees Travis McMichael and makes the decision to turn and engage Travis McMichael,” said Dial. “He turns you hear a shot, then you see Mr. McMichael moving backwards with Mr. Arbery.
Testimony: Shooter used racist slur as Arbery lay dying
This Thursday, May 7, 2020, file photo combo of images provided by the Glynn County Detention Center in Georgia shows Gregory McMichael, left, and his son Travis McMichael. Dial said Travis told police Arbery “squared up” like he was going to attack. “Travis McMichael said his adrenaline was pumping and it all happened very quickly.”He said Travis then fired the first shot into Arbery’s chest. “Travis McMichael used self-defense when he was attacked by Mr. Arbery,” Sheffield said. “I don't think it was self-defense by Mr. McMichael," Dial said.
3 men charged in Ahmaud Arbery killing prepare to face a judge this morning
The neighbor who filmed a video showing the shooting, 50-year-old William Roddie Bryan, was also arrested and charged with felony murder and illegally using a vehicle to try to confine and detain Arbery. Glynn County Magistrate Judge Wallace E. Harrell will make the determination whether authorities do have enough evidence for murder in Arberys killing to send the case to a trial court. It wasn't until May 7 that those men Greg McMichael, 64, and Travis McMichael, 34 were charged with felony murder and aggravated assault. The McMichaels' arrests came two days after cellphone video of the shooting leaked online and stirred a national outcry. The neighbor who filmed the video, 50-year-old William Roddie Bryan, was also arrested and charged with felony murder and illegally using a vehicle to try to confine and detain Arbery.
Fake support group for men who killed jogger created ‘to inflame racial and religious tensions’
SATILLA SHORES, Ga. – A group which emerged under the name “Justice for Travis and Greg McMichael” is fake. The image was visible to anyone who clicked on the group’s public page and perused the posts of “Christians against Google.”The existence of group enraged many. The battle between users who actually supported the McMichaels and the users seeking justice for Arbery, took over the page. “Justice for Gregory and Travis McMichael” was created (or -more accurately- renamed) to poke fun at racist Christians and to inflame racial tensions. When it was started in 2017, the group was called “Christians Against Google” and parodied fundamentalists trying to bring down “Satanic” Google with prayer.
What we know about the deadly shooting of Ahmaud Arbery
Travis McMichael, 34, and his father, Gregory McMichael, 64, were arrested and charged with murder and aggravated assault Thursday night. (Glynn County Detention Center)911 callsIn 911 calls released by the Glynn County Police Department, a man whose name was redacted told dispatchers there was a black man running down the street. The report states Travis McMichael pulled up beside Arbery and got out of the car with his shotgun. “Once I learned that there was some relationships between the DA in Glynn County and Ware County. He also went on to go point-by-point with why he felt Greg and Travis McMichael did not commit a crime in fatally shooting Arbery.
Ware County prosecutor saw ‘no grounds for arrest’ before passing on Arbery shooting death
His son, Travis McMichael, is the alleged shooter. We do not see grounds for an arrest of any of the three parties.”In the letter to Glynn County Police Capt. Tom Jump, Barnhill went on to go point-by-point why he felt Greg and Travis McMichael did not commit a crime in fatally shooting Arbery. “It appears Travis McMichael, Greg McMichael and William Bryan were following in “hot pursuit of a burglary suspect with solid first-hand probable cause,” Barnhill wrote. ... At that point, Arbery grabbed the shotgun (that Travis McMichael was holding).
2½ months after black jogger shot and killed, GBI joins investigation
Other than Arbery, the men in the video are believed to be former Brunswick District Attorney investigator Greg McMichael and his son, Travis. The homicide was initially investigated by Glynn County police and the Brunswick District Attorney’s Office, but turned over to the Ware County District Attorney’s Office do to a conflict of interest due to the elder McMichael’s former employment in law enforcement. The case was then forwarded to the Hinesville District Attorney’s Office when Ware County claimed the same conflict. Arbery’s attorneys allege prosecutorial misconduct on behalf of the Glynn County Police Department and the Waycross District Attorneys, prompting a protest Wednesday outside the Brunswick District Attorney’s Office. On the morning of May 5, GCPD requested the GBI investigate the public release of video related to Arbery’s death.