Three white men convicted of the murder of Ahmaud Arbery in 2020 are seeking a new trial. Greg McMichael, Travis McMichael, and William “Roddie” Bryan are making various arguments for a new trial, including claims of a tainted jury and ineffective counsel. The trio chased and killed Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man, after suspecting him of theft in a Georgia subdivision.
The pursuit ended with Travis McMichael fatally shooting Arbery at close range, an act captured on Bryan's cellphone video. The case gained national attention after a delay in arrests and the release of the video online. The men argued self-defense during the trial, but evidence showed Arbery had not committed any crimes in the neighborhood.
Attorneys for the defendants are now challenging the verdict, citing outside influences on the jury and ineffective legal representation. They also claim the judge erred in excluding evidence of Arbery's past encounters with law enforcement. The defendants were sentenced to life in prison without parole for murder and were also convicted of federal hate crimes targeting Arbery because of his race.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is reviewing the hate crimes verdict, while the defendants seek a new trial at the state level. The legal proceedings continue as the case remains a focal point in discussions on racial injustice and the criminal legal system.
