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Thread: Gregory and Travis McMichael Sentenced to LWOP in 2020 GA Murder of Ahmaud Arbery

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    Gregory and Travis McMichael Sentenced to LWOP in 2020 GA Murder of Ahmaud Arbery




    William "Roddie" Bryan, Jr.


    White father and son arrested in black man's fatal shooting

    SAVANNAH, GA. — More than two months after a black man was shot to death while jogging on a Sunday afternoon, Georgia investigators concluded that the facts show enough evidence to jail a white father and son on charges of felony murder and aggravated assault.

    The investigation by local authorities appeared stalled until this week, when a video of the shooting was leaked and shared widely on social media, prompting outrage across the nation.

    "All that matters is what the facts tell us,” Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Vic Reynolds said Friday, noting that his agency brought charges a day after it was brought into the case.

    Reynolds said “every stone will be uncovered” in the investigation now that Gregory and Travis McMichael have been booked into the Glynn County Jail in the Feb. 23 shooting of Ahmaud Arbery.

    Addressing the question of racial intent, Reynolds noted that Georgia has no hate crime law. That has prompted many civil rights activists to call for a federal investigation. A group of professional athletes joined that call Friday in a letter to Attorney General Bill Barr and FBI director Christopher Wray.

    The McMichaels told police they pursued Arbery, with another person recording them on video, after spotting him running in their neighborhood. The father and son said they thought he matched the appearance of a burglary suspect who they said had been recorded on a surveillance camera some time before.

    Arbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper Jones, has said she thinks her son, a former high school football player, was just jogging in the Satilla Shores neighborhood before he was killed.

    Arbery would have turned 26 on Friday, and a crowd of several hundred people, most wearing masks, sang “Happy Birthday” in his honor outside the Glynn County Courthouse. Many expressed frustration at the long wait before arrests were made and fears that the justice system will fail them.

    “The work is just beginning,” John Perry, president of the Brunswick NAACP chapter, told the crowd. “We can’t stop now. We can’t lose focus and we’ve got to make sure the prosecution gets done.”

    Anthony Johnson, 40, said Arbery was his neighbor for about a decade. He said he wants to see the McMichaels get the same treatment in the legal system as black defendants.

    “Just arresting them, that ain’t doing nothing," Johnson said. "We want them convicted. We want them sent to prison for life.”

    Gregory and Travis McMichael made their first, brief court appearances Friday afternoon.

    The father and son, both wearing orange jumpsuits, appeared individually from jail on a videoconference screen in the courtroom of Magistrate Judge Wallace Harrell. Inmates aren’t appearing in person because of the coronavirus.

    The judge spent roughly a minute reading each man his rights and the charges faced. A Superior Court judge will have to decide whether to grant them bond.

    The McMichaels spoke only when asked to confirm their names. Neither had attorneys representing them in court. No further hearing dates were scheduled.

    The felony murder charges against Gregory McMichael, 64, and Travis McMichael, 34, mean that a victim was killed during the commission of an underlying felony, in this case aggravated assault. The charge doesn't require intent to kill.

    A murder conviction in Georgia is automatically punishable by life in prison, either with or without the possibility of parole. A prosecutor can also seek the death penalty in a murder case if certain aggravating circumstances exist.

    A GBI news release said the McMichaels “confronted Arbery with two firearms. During the encounter, Travis McMichael shot and killed Arbery.”

    Some of the encounter was apparently recorded in two 911 calls, with a dispatcher trying to understand the problem.

    “There’s a black male running down the street,” the caller says.

    “I just need to know what he was doing wrong,” the dispatcher responds, in part.

    In a second call six minutes later, someone can be heard yelling “Stop. ... Dammit. Stop.” Then, after a pause, “Travis!”

    Gregory McMichael retired last year as an investigator for Glynn County District Attorney Jackie Johnson; the connection caused Johnson to recuse herself. Waycross D.A. George E. Barnhill then got the case before recusing himself under pressure from Arbery's family because his son works in Johnson's office.

    Tom Durden, the outside prosecutor overseeing the case, had said he wanted a grand jury to decide whether charges are warranted, but Georgia courts are still largely closed because of the coronavirus. Durden said Friday that he won't bow to public pressure from one side or another.

    The leaked video shows a black man running at a jogging pace. The truck is stopped in the road ahead of him, with one of the white men standing in the pickup’s bed and the other beside the open driver’s side door.

    The runner attempts to pass the pickup on the passenger side, moving just beyond the truck, briefly outside the camera’s view. A gunshot sounds, and the video shows the runner grappling with a man over what appears to be a shotgun or rifle. A second shot can be heard, and the runner can be seen punching the man. A third shot is fired at point-blank range. The runner staggers a few feet and falls face down.

    “They did not arrest the killers of Ahmaud Arbery because they saw the video,” Benjamin Crump, an attorney for the slain man’s father, Marcus Arbery, told The Associated Press on Friday. “They arrested the killers of Ahmaud Arbery because we saw the video, the public saw the video and it went viral. It was shocking. People were astonished.”

    Brunswick defense attorney Alan Tucker identified himself Thursday as the person who shared the video with the radio station. He did not say how he obtained it. In a statement, Tucker said he wasn’t representing anyone involved. He said he shared the video “because my community was being ripped apart by erroneous accusations and assumptions.”

    The outcry over the killing reached the White House, where President Donald Trump offered condolences to Arbery’s family.

    Trump said Friday on Fox News Channel that he'd seen the video.

    “It’s a heartbreak ... very rough, rough stuff," Trump added. "Justice getting done is what solves that problem. It’s in the hands of the governor and I’m sure he’ll do the right thing.”

    Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden called Arbery’s death a “murder.” During an online roundtable Thursday, Biden said the video shows Arbery “lynched before our very eyes.”

    "I watched the video depicting Mr. Arbery’s last moments alive,” Republican Gov. Brian Kemp said. “I can tell you it’s absolutely horrific, and Georgians deserve answers.”

    https://www.wral.com/father-son-char...bery/19090010/
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    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
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    AHMAUD ARBERY'S MOTHER WANTS DEATH PENALTY FOR SON'S KILLERS

    Ahmaud Arbery's mother says, since her son was killed, the people who took his life also deserve to lose theirs ... at the hands of the State of Georgia.

    Wanda Cooper-Jones tells TMZ ... she would like prosecutors to seek death penalty sentences for Travis and Gregory McMichael ... the two men charged with Ahmaud's murder.

    We spoke to Wanda Tuesday afternoon for TMZ Live ... and asked her if capital punishment was appropriate in this case. As Wanda put it, "Coming from my point of view, my son died, so they should die as well."

    There may be several circumstances in this case that would allow the prosecutor to seek the death penalty, including this provision of Georgia law ... the death penalty can be sought if "the capital offense was outrageously or wantonly vile, horrible, or inhuman in that it involved torture, depravity of mind or an aggravated battery to the victim."

    Wanda told us she's already spoken to the newly appointed prosecutor, Joyette Holmes. During our interview, Wanda's attorney, Lee Merritt, didn't want her to disclose too much about her conversation with Holmes.

    But, watch ... Wanda did make it clear she's confident she and Holmes are on the same page when it comes to getting justice for Ahmaud.

    https://www.tmz.com/2020/05/12/ahmau...ory-mcmichael/
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    Senior Member CnCP Legend Neil's Avatar
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    I doubt that prosecutor will seek the death penalty. I can’t wait to see the ugly looking ready to collapse Dunham try to spin this if they do. The prosecution is black and this was a black man killed by two white men so there so should be no race card by guilty ugly white liberal Dunham.

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    Senior Member CnCP Legend Mike's Avatar
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    This isn't a death penalty case. Charges will be reduced, or dropped. Video of shooting deflates narrative.
    "There is a point in the history of a society when it becomes so pathologically soft and tender that among other things it sides even with those who harm it, criminals, and does this quite seriously and honestly. Punishing somehow seems unfair to it, and it is certain that imagining ‘punishment’ and ‘being supposed to punish’ hurts it, arouses fear in it." Friedrich Nietzsche

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    Administrator Moh's Avatar
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    White father and son arrested in black man's fatal shooting
    Gotta love that headline. Wonder why we never ever see headlines with the reverse regarding race.

  6. #6
    Senior Member CnCP Legend JLR's Avatar
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    It's not a death penalty case but everything that happened shows why vigilantism is not a good idea. Two guys who haven't even directly seen a crime chasing down someone they deem to be suspicious with guns drawn. It's a recipe for disaster. Anyone could think that they were being robbed/attacked. The McMichaels did not witness a crime so they had no right to confront Arbery. They should be facing manslaughter charges at a minimum.

  7. #7
    Senior Member CnCP Legend Neil's Avatar
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    The prosecution will decide that. If she says there was no wrong doing in this later on then so be it and to Moh’s point, yeah you never see the headline reversed that would anger Black Lives Matter.

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    Ga. Homeowner Doesn’t Believe Arbery Stole Anything

    OAN Newsroom

    The owner of a Georgia home, which was under construction in the neighborhood where Ahmaud Arbery was shot and killed, has spoken out.

    During an interview this week, Larry English confirmed his home surveillance video seemed to show Arbery on his property on the day in question, but did not report any crime. English added he does not believe Arbery stole anything and claimed the motion-activated camera installed at the site captured no criminality.

    The footage was captured just moments before Arbery’s death and appeared to show him looking around the home before leaving.

    English claimed he wanted to set the record straight, emphasizing he had never shared the video or any information with Greg and Travis McMichael, the father and son who allegedly killed Arbery.

    “I don’t want it to be put out, misused and misinterpreted for people to think that I had accused Mr. Arbery of stealing or robbery, because I never did,” he said.

    He added he had not seen the footage before Arbery was confronted by the McMichaels.

    According to a statement by his attorney, English never stated that Arbery was the person in the video. He has since questioned the resemblance between the person in the tape and Arbery.

    This came after the suspect, Greg McMichael, claimed there had been a string of break-ins and that Arbery had looked like a suspect caught on surveillance video. However, Glenn County Police announced there had been no reports of burglaries in the area from the beginning of January to the time of the Arberys’ death.

    English condemned the actions by the McMichaels and said “the only crime that the homeowner has seen captured on video is the senseless killing of Mr. Arbery.”

    “I’m deeply sorry for the family and their loss,” he stated.

    In the meantime, Arbery’s mother continues to fight for her son. She has called for the death penalty for the those responsible.

    “You know, my son was shot and killed. Ahmaud wasn’t given a chance, he wasn’t given a chance to live. He chose to fight and still was killed. So, I think that they should get what Ahmaud got.”

    – Wanda Cooper Jones, mother of the victim

    Concerns have been raised as to why, for weeks, the case was passed down between prosecutors with no arrests. A fourth prosecutor had to be assigned to the case and federal authorities are now looking to see if hate crime charges apply.

    The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has said it will be looking into prosecutorial misconduct.

    https://www.oann.com/ga-homeowner-do...tole-anything/
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    Defense team says facts will exonerate former DA investigator accused of killing Ahmaud Arbery

    MACON, Ga. – Attorneys for a former Glynn County district attorney investigator charged with murder called the death of Ahmaud Arbery a tragedy, but said Friday they are confident that once all of the facts come out, Gregory McMichael will never be convicted in this case.

    “The truth will reveal this is not just another act of violent racism. Gregory McMichael did not commit murder. Gregory McMichael is not a party to the crime of murder,” said Frank Hogue, who, along with his wife and partner, Laura Hogue, are defending the 64-year-old.

    “The how and the why of (Arbery’s death) simply cannot be shoehorned into the narrative that has been told so far,” Frank Hogue said.

    “We know several other critically important facts. Those facts point to a very different narrative than the ones that brings you all here today," Laura Hogue said at a news conference outside their Macon law practice.

    McMichael along with his son, Travis McMichael, are both charged with felony murder and aggravated assault in the Feb. 23 shooting death of Arbery. On Thursday, the son’s attorneys also expressed confidence that their client would not be found guilty.

    The Hogues said details will come out during preliminary and bond hearings, but the whole truth will come out in a court of law in front of a jury.

    “We invited you here today in order to implore you and the public to show the respect for our process of criminal law, respect that it deserves to allow this case, all in the courtroom, over time,” Frank Hogue said.

    Among the issues the Hogues planned to address was that the father and son face the same changes even though the police investigation, the autopsy and video of the incident all indicate that the shots that killed Arbery were fired by a shotgun carried Tavis McMichael.

    According to an incident report by Glynn County police, Gregory McMichael, said he and his son armed themselves and chased Arbery in a pickup truck after seeing him run down their street. Gregory McMichael told police he suspected Arbery was a burglar and said he attacked Travis McMichael before he was shot in a struggle over the gun.

    Video provided to police at the time showed that the McMichaels’ pickup truck was stopped ahead of Arbery as he was running in Satilla Stores and the first shot was fired before Arbery rounded the pickup, reached Travis McMichael and began to struggle.

    The McMichaels were not arrested and charged until two days after both the video of the shooting was posted on social media and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation were asked to take over the investigation of Arbery’s death.

    Arbery’s mother said Wednesday that she has confidence in the investigation now that the GBI has taken it over and a new independent prosecutor has been appointed. She said she would like prosecutors to seek the death penalty.

    https://www.news4jax.com/news/georgi...ahmaud-arbery/
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    Administrator Helen's Avatar
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    William 'Roddie' Bryan Jr., man who reportedly filmed Ahmaud Arbery's killing, charged with murder

    According to the GBI, 50-year-old William "Roddie" Bryan Jr. was jailed on felony murder and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment

    By First Coast News Staff

    The man who reportedly filmed the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery was arrested and charged with murder, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

    According to the GBI, 50-year-old William "Roddie" Bryan Jr. was jailed on felony murder and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment.

    The GBI said these charges stem from Arbery's killing on Feb. 23.

    Bryan was booked into the Glynn County Jail.

    S. Lee Merritt, Benjamin Crump and L. Chris Stewart, the attorneys for Arbery's parents, released the following statement on behalf of the family:

    "The family of Ahmaud Arbery was relieved to learn that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has today taken William 'Roddie' Bryan into custody. We called for his arrest from the very beginning of this process. His involvement in the murder of Mr. Arbery was obvious to us, to many around the country and after their thorough investigation, it was clear to the GBI as well. The family of Mr. Arbery is thankful for the diligence of the GBI and they way in which they tirelessly pursued the evidence in this case. We want anyone who participated in the murder of Mr. Arbery to be held accountable."

    Arbery was shot to death on Feb. 23.

    More than two months went by before suspected killers Travis McMichael and his father Greg McMichael were arrested.

    Since his death, Videos and 911 calls released show the confrontation that ended Arbery’s life.

    Arbery was chased for four minutes before he was killed.

    Several angles show what happened in Satilla Shores, the neighborhood where Arbery was killed. It all starts moments after video shows Arbery walking into a home under construction.

    Accused shooter Travis McMichael and his father Greg told police they thought he was burglarizing the house.

    Surveillance video from across the street shows a neighbor calling 911. Police records show the first call came in at 1:08 pm.

    Video shows Arbery inside the home for a few minutes. The homeowner says nothing was stolen from the property.

    Seconds later, Arbery is seen leaving the home. Around 1:10, video shows the McMichael’s truck following Arbery.

    The police report states that Greg McMichael and Travis McMichael followed Arbery down Burford Drive and attempted to cut Arbery off.

    The report says Arbery turned around and ran back in the other direction.

    William “Roddy” Bryan, who lives on Burford Drive, tried to block him in and was unsuccessful, the report says.

    It’s unclear what happened between this point and when Bryan started recording the video showing Arbery’s death.

    In the video, you can see Arbery running down Holmes Road.

    Around 1:15 pm, a second 911 call came from Travis McMichael’s cell phone.

    On video, you see some of the gunshots that killed Arbery.

    You can also hear them on the recordings of the 911 call.

    The second 911 call came seven minutes after the first one, where a neighbor spotted Arbery inside the construction site.

    https://www.firstcoastnews.com/artic...c-bed8aac746be
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