BRUNSWICK, Ga. — The three men convicted in the killing of a Ahmaud Arbery must now face federal hate crime and kidnapping charges in the Feb. 23, 2020 murder.
Travis McMichael, 35, who fired the shots, was found guilty Wednesday on all nine counts, including malice murder and four counts of felony murder after a jury deliberated for two days.
His father, Gregory McMichael, 65, was found not guilty of malice murder but guilty of felony murder and all other charges.
Their neighbor, William “Roddie” Bryan, 52, who recorded video of the killing, was found guilty of three counts felony murder, one count aggravated assault, false imprisonment and criminal attempt to commit a felony. He was not convicted of malice murder, one count of felony murder and one count of aggravated assault.
The men all face minimum sentences of life in prison in the fatal shooting on Feb. 23, 2020. The judge will decide whether that comes with or without the possibility of parole.
Federal hate crime charges were filed against the three men on April 28. The McMichaels also face federal gun charges. Jury selection for that trial is slated to begin Feb. 7, 2022.
Evidence in this trial will likely include footage taken by Bryan of Travis McMichael uttering a racial slur over Arbery’s body after he shot him, which was not admitted into evidence during the criminal trial.
Here’s what’s next with the case and whether the death penalty could be in play:
The McMichaels and Bryan each face one count each of interference with rights and attempted kidnapping. The McMichaels are also each charged with one count of using, carrying, and brandishing — and in Travis McMichael’s case, firing — a gun during and in relation to a crime of violence.
“The indictment alleges that the defendants used force and threats of force to intimidate and interfere with Arbery’s right to use a public street because of his race,” according to a news release from Southern District of Georgia when the federal indictments were first issued.
Charges of interference with rights and attempted kidnapping could result in the death penalty, life in prison or another prison sentence length, and a fine, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
This means the McMichaels and Bryan could be sentenced to death for their alleged crimes.
An appeal is likely in the state’s criminal court case. Defense attorney Kevin Gough who represented Bryan, called for a mistrial several times and noted on record his frustration with his client receiving a fair trial.
“He’s the one that deserves a fair trial, and we’ll let the appellate courts decide whether he had one,” Gough said, speaking to CourtTV in an interview after the verdict was announced.
Laura Hogue, who represented Greg McMichael with her husband Frank Hogue, said only that she was “very disappointed.” Frank Hogue said they will appeal, which can only begin once sentencing is complete.
Robert Rubin and Jason Sheffield, attorneys for Travis McMichael, said they, too, will file an appeal.
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Those men who were found guilty are scum and if they hung those clowns, it would not bother me. However, “hate crimes” are a joke. Just severely punish any criminals and stop the hate crime garbage. A crime is a crime and should be handled with severe punishment, I do not care what color the perpetrator is!!!
“The men all face minimum sentences of life in prison”
OK, now these fools want to try them on hate crimes. For what to give the two or three more sentences of life in prison.
This is now just a Democrat Party Con and Deception.
Oh, see how much we the Democrat Party care about when White men kill a Black man?
I.A.W. U.S. Census & 2018 FBI (Table 43a)
Black males make up about 7% of the U.S. population but every year commit ~56% of all the murders and ~54% of all robberies in the U.S… Every year in the U.S. there are ~6,000 African-Americans men, women and children killed and 92% of them were killed by fellow African-Americans.
Note that the Democrat Party DOES NOT care if you kill each other,
there is no political gain in it.
They want to convict them of a federal “hate” crime so they can impose the death penalty.
I thought the left, was RABIDLY against the death penalty?
Unfortunately if you are deemed acceptable by the democrats you are not capable of committing a hate crime. There is a gigantic difference between justice and revenge. And those who seek revenge will have Gods revenge to deal with.
Mark Twain once Said, ” Theres Lies, Damned Lies, And Statics. ” Justice is Blind, All are to be treated equal but if they are Colored, Justice Ignores the Crimes that they do, and a” Not Guilty vertict, ” is Issued most times.
The “Socialist, / Communist Party Of America Claim ” A Black Person Cannot Be Guilty but we find The Colored Race because the’re Minorities, Have no Power but Robert Green said this about thoese who yeild Power, “Power is a Game,and In Games you do not Judge Your Opponent By Their Intentions But By The Effects Of Their Actions.”
IF you are white, you are guilty as accused.
IF you are black, you can NEVER ever be even charged…
That’s how these damnable hate crime laws work… EVER SINCE THEY WERE implemented.!
With the element of race being front and center, everybody on the plaintiff side will want to squeeze every bit of drama out of it that they can—again, talking strictly about the race element here.
The actions of these three men serve to bolster all of the divisive allegations thrown out by the Left where race is concerned. In the current social and political climate in this country, it is incidents like this that we do not need. They serve only to feed the fires of hate and discontent.
As to further legal action—if these men are looking at life sentences, then additional charges leading to additional sentencing doesn’t make much sense. They will not be here to serve any more time beyond their life here on Earth. But then we go back to the drama aspect—if it embellishes the narrative, the plaintiff side will go for it.
This need not turn into a three-ring circus.
It already is a three ring circus..
I too wonder about “hate crime” designation. I’ve always thought every crime committed against another, beatings with fists, feet, bats, tire irons, hammers, stabbing, shooting, raping, vehicles, and whatever other means, involved an element of hate. None of those listed were done out of love for sure.
So when is the federal government going to charge the black driver that killed those white people at the Parade ???
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Why go thru the expense of another trial? They already face a life sentence. Let’s have another trial so someone can “feel good”?
ITS done, only to apeaze the un pleasable mob..