Brunswick, Georgia — A federal jury in Georgia has begun deliberations within the federal hate crimes trial of three White males who've already been convicted of chasing down and murdering Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man.
Throughout Monday's closing arguments, attorneys for the three defendants argued that the pursuit of Arbery was not racially motivated, however a results of the assumption he was concerned in legal exercise.
Father and son Greg and Travis McMichael and their neighbor William "Roddie" Bryan had been convicted in state court docket in November.
The federal case hinges on whether or not the boys had been motivated particularly as a result of Arbery was Black. Prosecutors instructed the jury that the McMichaels and Bryan had been pushed by "racial assumptions, racial resentment and racial anger." Twenty witnesses testified, and textual content messages and social media posts — some repeatedly utilizing the n-word — had been launched to ascertain a historical past of racist views.
The McMichaels tried to enter a plea deal earlier than trial, however the decide rejected it after Arbery's household opposed it.
Arbery's mother and father had been in court docket Monday. Arbery's mom, Wanda Cooper Jones, stated the trial has been "very emotional" and "very draining."
"I am grateful it is nearly over," she stated.
All three males have been sentenced to life in jail for his or her homicide convictions. The federal expenses carry a most life sentence as nicely.