Jury deliberations begin in Arbery murder trial

BRUNSWICK, Ga.— Jurors — 11 white and one Black — will begin deliberating Tuesday the fate of three white men accused of killing a Black man in the street of their Brunswick, Georgia neighborhood.

Closing arguments wrapped up Tuesday with prosecutors saying Travis McMichael, Greg McMichael and William “Roddie” Bryan were unlawfully chasing and following Ahmaud Arbery through the Satilla Shores neighborhood when he was ultimately shot and killed by Travis McMichael after a five minute pursuit Feb. 23, 2020. 

The McMichaels argued they were attempting to perform a citizen’s arrest on Arbery, who they believed was responsible for the burglaries at a home under construction; Bryan later joined the pursuit upon seeing Arbery run by his home with the McMichaels following behind in their pickup truck.

Prosecutor Linda Dunikoski said the trial is based on “driveway decisions and assumptions,” when the McMichaels chose to purse Arbery after he ran past their home on Satilla Drive.  

 

The McMichaels, said they had planned to hold Arbery until police arrived; however, after five minutes of Arbery being block and followed throughout the neighborhood, Arbery and Travis McMichael appear to tussle over the gun during which Arbery is shot two times and killed.  

On day 12 of the trial Monday, the state and attorneys for the three defendants gave closing arguments, with the state giving a final rebuttal Tuesday. 

Before jurors left the courtroom around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Judge Timothy Walmsley read and explained the charges against the three men— malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and false imprisonment. He also defined the state’s citizen’s arrest, self defense and use of force laws as it related to the charges.  

This story will be updated.  

Local News

A major adaptive gardening decision!

Local News

An Evening in the Garden raises funds for scholarships

Local News

Reps. Taylor and Cannon work to lower “tort tax”

Local News

Cassidy Rd. to see temporary lane closure

Local News

Georgia Foundation for Agriculture, Georgia Farm Bureau & Georgia EMC donate ag books to local libraries

Local News

Incident Reports & Arrests 03-24

Local News

Thomas County Farm Bureau announces winners of high school art contest

Local News

Colonial Dames 17th Century members attend State Conference

Education

Brookwood School announces two National Merit Finalists

Education

Small shines in Regional Spelling Bee

Local News

New Grady County Sheriff works to combat addiction

Local News

TEF preps for US Navy Band Concert, no ‘Velveteen Rabbit’ this weekend

Local News

Tax Assessors Board honors Len Powell

Local News

Voters approve FLOST referendum

Local News

Thomasville Center for the Arts showcases youth art and announces YAM Competition winners

Education

Johnson chosen as Garrison-Pilcher’s Teacher of the Year

Local News

Rotary Club of Thomasville offers free tax preparation for retired residents

Local News

Incident Reports & Arrests 03-19

Local News

Anne McCudden steps down as History Center Director

Local News

Spring and March pointers in the landscape!

Local News

Pope’s Museum to debut new mural, exhibit on Saturday

Local News

Dan Bellamy wins 2nd Place Large Artistic Sculpture at International Twist & Shout competition

Local News

Reps. Taylor and Cannon enter final stretch of Legislative Session

Local News

Imagine Thomasville celebrates ribbon cutting for the Army Recruiting Station