In a Georgia courtroom, damning new information was revealed in connection to the killing of Ahmaud Arbery. The hearing ended today with a judge deciding there was enough evidence to have the case proceed to trial.
#AhmaudArbery case will go to trial, judge rules, finding government has sufficient evidence to prosecute Travis and Greg McMichael, and Roddie Bryan, for murder.
— Emily Green (@emilytgreen) June 4, 2020
Arbery was shot three times in the back in Brunswick, Georgia last February. It wasn’t until the video was released in May that those behind the shooting were arrested. Gregory and Travis McMichael admitted to following and shooting Arbery because they said he resembled a suspect who had committed burglaries. But as it turns out, no burglaries were reported in that area.
NEW: GBI says there is cell phone video showing Bryan and the McMichaels essentially pinning #AhmaudAubrey in between their trucks on the road to prevent Ahmaud from running away. GBI says Travis McMichael never saw Ahmaud steal anything, but pursued him based on his "instinct."
— Andy Pierrotti (@AndyPierrotti) June 4, 2020
The McMichaels are charged, along with the man who recorded the video, William “Roddie” Bryan. Though Bryan initially denied any involvement today during a hearing we learned that he did admit to police that he joined the McMichaels in pursuing Arbery.
Under oath, GBI Special Agent Richard Dial says Gregory and Travis McMichael, along with William Bryan, pursued and trapped Ahmaud Arbery between their trucks. He says this is corroborated by video evidence *beyond* the widely circulated video showing moment of Arbery’s death.
— Sabrina Siddiqui (@SabrinaSiddiqui) June 4, 2020
According to GBI Special Agent Richard Dial, Bryan told police after Arbery was shot, Travis McMichael said “f-ing n-word” while standing over the victim’s body.
Georgia is one of a handful of states that does not have a hate crime statute, but the Department of Justice is reportedly investigating the shooting death as a hate crime.
Lee Merritt, who represents the family of #AhmaudArbery, says the prosecution's case is stronger than he originally believed. Watch live on #CourtTV. https://t.co/tnYdPcDRMU pic.twitter.com/ahk8NeQQ5m
— Court TV (@CourtTV) June 4, 2020
(Video of the hearing is above)
