Ahmaud Abery’s (pictured), murder trial defendants did not respond in self defense because Ahmaud was a black jogger who had no weapons when he was shot to death, according to a Georgia jury.
Ahmaud Abery’s murder trial was not committed in self defense. Ahmaud was the only black jogger in his place when he was gunned down and killed.
‘Everybody in this case had a gun except for Ahmaud Arbery,’ Prosecutor Linda Dunikoski said in court.
According to the prosecutor, the prosecution would try to convince the jury that Arbery was responsible for the attack.
Arbery only had his running shoes and clothes on him at the time he was shot to death.
“He threatened them. There were three on one. Two pick-up trucks and two guns. Nothing in Mr. Arbery’s pockets. Dunikoski stated that he did not have a phone or a gun and that he had no ID.
She said, “They want to make you believe that he is dangerous.” They want to prove that they are justified in what they did. Here’s the truth: self-defense is not possible under certain circumstances. Self-defense is not available if you’re the first unjustified aggressor.
“If you’re committing a felonious offense against another person, you can’t assert self-defense.” And if you provoke somebody, if they defend themselves against you, and then you go , oh look he attacked me first, but you were the one who was provoking the attack – you don’t get to claim self-defense.’
In an effort to challenge the citizen arrest argument of the defense, she also claimed that the defendants did not have the right to hold him.
She said that Ahmaud was an African-American man who ran down the street and they decided to attack him in their driveways. They killed him because he refused to stop talking to them.
Each defense team will then make its final arguments, before deliberations begin.
Prosecutor Linda Dunikoski told the jury told that the defense would ‘try to convince you that Mr. Arbery was the attacker,’ but alleged he had nothing on him during the incident: ‘He was somehow threatening to them. Three-on-one, two pickup trucks and two guns. Nothing in Mr. Arbery’s pockets. He didn’t have a phone, a gun or an ID.
Monday’s closing arguments in Arbery’s murder trial were opened by Dunikoski. He claimed that the defendants incorrectly believed the worst of the black jogger and displayed’malice beforethought’ as they chased him in their pickup trucks through Georgia streets, attacking him.
“This case involves assumptions and driveway choices. The three defendants involved made assumptions. They made assumptions about the day. She argued that Ahmaud Arbery was running down the street and they decided to attack him in their driveways.
“The bottom line. The police assumed that he had committed a crime on the same day. Right. He ran really fast down the street. They didn’t dial 911.
“They wanted to arrest him and question before calling 911. We know this because they said it to police the night before. They said that on the spot. We want to speak to you, Hey!
“You won’t be able to do that.” You might be wondering what is going on. What’s the real story? They attacked Mr Arbery. Four felonies were committed against Mr Arbery.
“Then, they shot him and killed him. They didn’t shoot him because he was dangerous to them but because he refused to stop talking to them. They wanted him to stop. You’ll be shot at with a shotgun. He will stop. This should cause him to stop. We want to speak to him.
“And what did he do?” He still ran away. For five minutes, ran away. Travis McMichael attempted to catch him with the shotgun but he turned around. He didn’t attack him, so we don’t know if he did. It doesn’t really matter because he shot him so fast. He pulled the trigger so fast.
Ahmaud was killed by them. Each of them acted as part of the crime.
“But for their actions but for the decisions they made, Ahmaud Arbery would still be here.”
Dunikoski stated to the jury that Arbery can be charged with trespass if he is dressed in running clothes and walking about a Satilla Shores home on several nights during late 2019 or 2020.
Let’s be real, he is a “looky-loo”, he goes in there at night, and it’s wrong. We all know that, okay? She said.
Arbery’s killer was killed in a shooting incident.
This law permitted anyone to take someone into custody if they had reasonable knowledge and probable cause to believe that the individual was fleeing from a grave felony offense.
She said that trespassing was a misdemeanor and that none of the defendants knew about Arbery’s past or his activities before he ran through their driveways.
Gregory McMichael (65) and Travis McMichael (35) were both convicted. William ‘Roddie’ Bryan (52) was also acquitted of all charges.
McMichael the younger was the only defendant that took to the witness stand.
Arbery claimed that he had taken his gun from him after a chase of five minutes through Satilla Shores (a mostly white area) on Feb. 23, 2020.
McMichael said that he also spoke to the jury. the black jogger did not speak, brandish a weapon or directly threaten him before the he shot him dead.
McMichael stated that McMichael did not threaten him verbally. However, he said that Arbery had given him the impression that he was a threat, as he was looking straight at McMichael.
McMichael said that he also saw Arbery trying out to enter Bryan’s truck, who was part of the chase for the black jogger.
Dunikoski accused Travis McMichael (pictured in court Monday), his father, Gregory McMichael, and neighbor William ‘Roddie’ Bryan Jr of wrongly assuming the worst about Arbery and demonstrating ‘malice aforethought’ when they illegally chased him through the streets of their Georgia suburb
Bryan recorded the murder on his cellphone and it was released more than two years later. The public then learned that no arrests had been made.
Following ten days’ of intense testimony, Bryan and the McMichaels lawyers finished their evidence presentation to the jury.
Defense argued that Travis McMichael had shot Arbery 3 times in self defense as Bryan and McMichaels tried to make a citizen’s arrest for a young jogger. They suspected that he was a burglar at nearby properties.
A spokesperson for Glynn county Police later refuted that sentiment and stated there was only one burglary in the area within seven weeks of the shooting.
Further, the defense argued that Arbery’s pursuit was permissible under Georgia’s 19th century citizen’s arrest law. This allows citizens to take another person into custody if they believe they have committed a crime. However, this law was overturned last year following outcry.
The footage of Gregory McMichael from his officer-worn body camera, presented to court on Monday, showed Travis McMichael, 65 (left), consoling Travis McMichael after Ahmaud Abery, a 35-year old shot.
Gregory McMichael (left), allegedly said that his son and neighbor Ahmaud Abery (pictured below) had ‘trapped like rats’, noting that the jogger knew he wouldn’t get away.
Bryan recorded Bryan’s video of Arbery trying to grab Travis McMichael’s shotgun.
Arbery collapses to the ground after being shot by McMichael three more times. Arbery died instantly.
Prosecution alleged that the defendants misunderstood Arbery’s character and displayed’malice without thought’ as they chased Arbery, 25, through streets in pick-up trucks before shooting him.
Additionally, the state attempted to discredit arguments that defendants tried to obtain a valid citizen’s arrest. The law required that there be a’reasonable suspicion’ that someone is fleeing for a grave crime that they have committed.
Arbery didn’t have anything on him except his running shoes and clothes the day before he died.
The three defendants pleaded guilty not to the murder of their victim and several other charges including hate crimes at federal level. All three claim that they were self-defense.
Bryan took the footage on his phone. It was then widely seen online in months following Arbery’s passing. The incident caused national outrage and led to accusations being brought against the Brunswick brothers in June 2020.
Arbery’s mom Wanda Cooper Jones, who left courthouse shortly after the trial had ended on Thursday, said that her son was now free. “I’m certain we’ll get a guilty plea.”
He stated further that he felt Arbery was arming at the time.
Brunswick police stated after the incident that no items were taken from the unfinished property. The owner of the property later confirmed this. through his lawyer that Arbery probably stopped there to take a drink of water from a working faucet.
Defense lawyers also attested They were trying legally to stop Arbery, according to a Georgia citizen’s arrest law. Travis McMichael, on the other hand, contradicted that sentiment repeatedly during the trial. He stated that he chased Arbery just to ask him questions but also claimed that he incorrectly believed his father had called 911.
Thursday was a rest day for the defense. Before the jury starts deliberations, each defense team will present its closing arguments.
The defendants argued they had the right to attempt to arrest Arbery in accordance with Georgia’s citizens’ arrest law. This was later repealed after outrage about the murder.