BRUNSWICK, Ga. – Three white men convicted of murdering Ahmaud Arbery in 2020 appeared in court seeking a new trial. Greg McMichael, his son Travis McMichael, and their neighbor William “Roddie” Bryan made various arguments for a new trial before Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley, who presided over their original trial. The McMichaels armed themselves and pursued Arbery, a young Black man, leading to his fatal shooting on February 23, 2020, in Brunswick.
During the hearing, Travis McMichael’s attorney, Pete Donaldson, disclosed that a juror, identified as No. 380, had expressed bias in favor of the Arbery family during the jury selection process. The juror mentioned feeling like the weight of the Black race was on his shoulders after being the only Black member on the panel. Judge Walmsley agreed to allow the juror to testify while setting limitations to prevent discussion of jury deliberations.
Arbery’s death sparked nationwide outrage and became part of the ongoing conversation on racial injustice within the legal system. The defense argued during the trial that the pursuit of Arbery was justified due to suspicions of theft, despite no evidence supporting the claim. Bryan’s lawyer, Rodney Zell, raised concerns about Bryan’s trial attorney’s effectiveness and the impact of Bryan’s statements to investigators before his arrest.
The three defendants are seeking a new trial to challenge their murder convictions. The McMichaels received life sentences without parole, while Bryan has a chance of parole. Additionally, they were convicted of federal hate crimes for targeting Arbery because of his race. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is reviewing arguments to overturn the hate crimes verdict, with a decision pending.
The hearing marks a pivotal moment in the legal battle following Arbery’s tragic death, shedding light on the complexities of the case and the pursuit of justice for victims of racial violence. The court proceedings serve as a reminder of the systemic challenges faced by Black individuals within the criminal justice system and the ongoing efforts to address racial disparities in prosecutorial practices.