The jury in the trial of three white men accused of murdering Ahmaud Arbery (pictured) has reached a verdict

A verdict has been reached by the jury for Ahmaud arbery, three white men. 

The jury in the trial of three white men accused of murdering Ahmaud Arbery has reached a verdict.

Travis McMichael, the gunman, was found guilty of malice murder and felony murder.

His father, Gregory McMichael was found guilty of felony murder, aggravated assault, false imprisonment and criminal attempt to commit a felony.

His malice murder was not proved. 

Neighbor William Bryan ‘Roddie’ Bryan was found guilty on felony murder and aggravated assault. He also received false imprisonment for criminal attempt to commit another felony.

The jury found him not guilty of malice killing and one each of felony and aggravated murder. 

After being sworn in more than two weeks ago, the disproportionately white jury heard from more than two dozen witnesses – including gunman Travis McMichael, the only defendant to take the witness stand – and was presented with evidence photos, police body camera video, autopsy reports and more.

McMichael (35) was accompanied by his 65-year-old father Gregory McMichael and William ‘Roddie’ Bry Jr. (52). They pleaded guilty to murder, aggravated and false imprisonment charges for the fatal shooting at Satilla Shores in February 2020. 

According to the McMichaels, they believed Arbery was fleeing burglary when they became armed and drove off in a pickup truck after him.

Bryan joined in the chase when they passed by his home and captured cellphone video of Travis McMichael attacking Arbery from close range using a shotgun. Arbery was punching and grabbed the weapon.

The prosecution tried to convince the defendants that Arbery is a sham and attempted to counter arguments that Arbery was an attempt to obtain a valid citizen’s arrest. To be considered valid, one must have probable and reasonable suspicion that a suspect is running from a serious offense they may have committed.

“They decided to attack Ahmaud arbery in their driveways, because he ran down the street,” Linda Dunikoski, Prosecutor, stated during closing arguments.

She claimed that they killed him not because he was a danger to them but because he refused to stop talking to them. 

Arbery was denied evidence that he had been involved in crimes within the neighborhood of the defendants, according to the state. 

Defense attorneys contend the McMichaels were attempting a legal citizen´s arrest when they set off after Arbery, seeking to detain and question him as a suspected burglar after he was seen running from a nearby home under construction.

Gunman Travis McMichael was found guilty on the charge of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, false imprisonment and criminal attempt to commit a felony

Travis McMichael, the gunman, was found guilty of malice murder and felony murder. He also faces aggravated assault, false imprisonment, and criminal attempt.

Travis McMichael said that he shot Arbery out of self-defense. He claimed the man ran past Travis McMichael’s truck and then attacked him with his fists.

Jason Sheffield, a defense attorney said that his client was following the suspect in his truck due to’reasonable grounds and probable grounds’. He believed he was burglar. 

Additionally, he stated that Arbery did not have a weapon. Travis McMichael, however, said that Arbery reached for his shirt in search of a weapon. He also had his fists.

The above map shows Ahmaud Arbery's approximate path and locations of the events that occurred on February 23, 2020

This map illustrates Ahmaud Arbery’s exact path and location of the events on February 23, 2020.

In the video recorded by Bryan, Arbery can be seen trying to wrestle a shotgun from Travis McMichael's hands

Bryan recorded Bryan’s video of Arbery trying to grab Travis McMichael’s shotgun.

“Travis felt that something was not right… Aggravated Assault is a crime that may be committed with the use of your fists. Fists can be used as a weapon. Ahmaud Arbery, who is speeding towards Travis McMichael right now, could be carrying a weapon. Sheffield stated.  

The jury heard Gregory McMichael tell an operator that he was out in Satilla Shores during a 911 call. The street is crowded with a Black male.

Arbery then shouted, evidently as Arbery was running towards McMichael’s idling vehicle with Bryan’s truck approaching behind him. Damn it, stop! Travis!’ 

You can hear gunshots a few seconds later.

After Arbery was killed, the national reckoning began on racism. Two months after his grisly death video went online, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation assumed control of the case and quickly arrested the men. They are all charged with murder as well as other offenses. 

He was 25 years old and had already enrolled in a technical college.

Wanda Cooper Jones, Arbery’s mother, was accompanied Wednesday by prominent supporters, including Ben Crump, a civil rights lawyer, and the Rev. Al Sharpton, who demanded that jurors convict the Jogger’s white murderers took it in turns.

Crump who represents Arbery’s father Marcus Arbery in civil proceedings said: “You can see the defense attorney talk about his long legs with his dirty nails almost as though he was a runaway slave. They are chasing after him.” 

“They catch him, and then they execute him. Is this going to be a Jim Crow jury? Are they going to tell us in 2021 America that we have to be better?

Crump has represented George Floyd’s and Michael Brown’s families before and said that Arbery didn’t provoke Gregory McMichael (65), his gunman son Travis McMichael (35) and William “Roddy” Brian (52) prior to the deadly chase last February.  

The three defendants have all pleaded not guilty for one count each of malice and felony murder, as well as four other counts, including two counts of assault, false imprisonment, and criminal attempt to violate false imprisonment.   

Cooper-Jones said a few short words when she left the courtroom with her legal staff just after lunch to have a break. One well-wisher said that Cooper-Jones was doing well.

The mom who was anguished when asked about her heart said, “Heavy”.

Crump (far right) and the Rev. Al Sharpton (pictured Wednesday with Wanda Cooper-Jones on his left and Marcus Arbery on his right) took turns to demand jurors find the jogger’s alleged white killers guilty

Crump (far left) and Rev. Al Sharpton, Wanda Cooper Jones and Marcus Arbery (photo Wednesday) took turns demanding that jurors convict the Jogger’s white murderers.

Demonstrators have assembled outside the court, demanding justice for the slain 25-year-old

Outside the courthouse, protestors gathered to demand justice for the 25-year old victim.

Protestors hold a towel that reads "21st Century Lynching Cover-Up" in front of the Glen County Magistrate Court in Brunswick, Georgia as deliberations continue Wednesday

As Wednesday’s deliberations go on, protestors hold a towel reading ’21st Century Lynching Cover Up’ before the Glen County Magistrate Court of Brunswick, Georgia.

Crump stated that it resembles a Jim Crow-era killing. You have a young black male who keeps his affairs in order and then the ordinary white citizen suspects that he is guilty of something.

“Instead of calling police to give him his due process they call them and instead they run off to take matters into their own hands.”

Crump said Arbery’s 25-year old ‘lynching,’ was similar to Trayvon Martin’s murder. But he added that there is video evidence which should show the trio could not successfully assert self-defense like George Zimmerman. 

“We can see everything that has happened since he was alive. [Arbery]His life was at stake. Crump stated, “And I believe that sets us apart because it literally sees a young African man get lynched on broad daylight and in 2020.”

This is a statement that America could condone. Parents of children of colour can not be protected and can’t rely on the law for accountability.

“I first looked at the video as a lawyer, then I saw it as a black father of black children. Then I stated that this case must be tried. It is necessary to obtain justice.