Ahmaud Arbery was fatally shot in Brunswick, Georgia while out jogging
(Picture: via Reuters)Ahmaud Arbery’s murderers have been found guilty of hate crimes by a US federal court.
A US federal court found, on Tuesday, the defendants Gregory McMichael, 66, his son Travis, 36, and their neighbour, William Bryan, 52, targeted Ahmaud Arbery, 25, due to his race.
The three men had already been found guilty of Mr Arbery’s murder last year but faced five further federal charges in court.
Two of the counts related to hate-crime statutes, which charged the three men of using force or threats to deprive Mr Arbery of his right to use a public street because of his race which carries a sentence of life in prison.
A third count related to kidnapping, while the McMichaels faced two further firearms charges.
The 12-person jury found the men guilty of every count on Tuesday and they could now face life in prison in conjunction with the additional life sentences they received - although Bryan was offered the possibility for parole after 30 years - in January for Mr Arbery’s murder.
Following the convictions, Mr Arbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, said: "Ahmaud will continue to rest in peace but he will now begin to rest in power."
During the murder trial, the jury were shown approximately a dozen messages and social media posts in which Travis McMichael and Bryan had used racist slurs and made derogatory comments about black people.
At a news conference on Tuesday, US Attorney General Merrick Garland, said: “No-one in this country should have to fear the threat of hate-fuelled violence.
“No-one should fear that if they go out for a run they will be targeted and killed because of the colour of their skin.”
Mr Arbery had been jogging in the coastal city of Brunswick in February 2020, when the trio chased him.
The men cornered their victim in their pickup trucks before he was shot by Travis McMichael.
On Tuesday, the civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represented Arbery’s family, said: “Today, after much sorrow, grief, and pain, Ahmaud’s family can finally put this chapter behind them. For the last 24 months, they’ve dedicated themselves to getting justice for their son.
“For many of us, there was never any doubt that Greg McMichael, Travis McMichael, and William Bryan targeted Ahmaud because of his skin colour.
“But because of indisputable video evidence, disgusting messages sent by the defendants and witness testimony, their hate was revealed to the world and the jury. We hope and demand that the severity of their crimes are reflected in the sentencing as well.”
