Males charged with the demise of Ahmaud Arbery are being heard in Georgia

Defense attorneys have filed several petitions asking Judge Timothy Walmsley to provide details of Arbery’s previous encounters with law enforcement.

BRUNSWICK, Georgia – The three men charged with federal murder and hate crimes in connection with the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery had a hearing in Braunschweig State Court on Wednesday morning.

Travis McMichael, 35, along with 65-year-old Gregory McMichael and 51-year-old William “Roddie” Bryan were charged with hate crimes and attempted kidnapping last month. The two McMichaels were also charged with the use of firearms during a violent crime. All three have pleaded not guilty.

Judge Timothy Walmsley sat Wednesday and Thursday to hear several pending motions, notably a defense motion, to reveal details of Arbery’s previous encounters with law enforcement as well as alleged evidence of his mental illness.

There are also several other motions under discussion, including the Defendant Bryan’s motion to a fair trial, a motion to disqualify a prosecutor, the Limine state motion, and a motion for “illegal appointment of district attorney”.

Judgment video: Wednesday morning

The court is currently discussing Roddie Bryan’s motion to disqualify the Cobb County DA prosecutors in this case. He has submitted a subpoena to former ADA Jesse Evans, who has resigned, to testify against the office he worked for. @ FCN2go

– Troy Kless (@TroyKless) May 12, 2021

The three men appeared in federal court Tuesday for the first hearing on federal charges allegedly killing Arbery because of his race. The 25-year-old black was running down a street in the Satilla Shores neighborhood when a cell phone video shot by Bryan showed the McMichaels fighting over a gun with Arbery prior to the fatal shooting.

Marcus Arbery Sr., Ahmaud’s father, spoke after the hearing.

“I thank everyone who is supporting my family right now. If they [federal prosecutors] We know we are on the verge of getting justice for my son, “said Arbery Sr.

Arbery’s father was in court alongside his brother and sister. They could be seen comforting each other during the 30 minute hearing.

Arbery’s mother didn’t show up because of her travel plan, according to a family lawyer. On Monday, she stood alongside Governor Brian Kemp for the repeal of the Georgia Citizens Arrest Act, used by a former district attorney to justify the McMichaels’ actions.

Family attorney Lee Merritt thinks it appropriate to call Arbery’s murder a hate crime.

“[The judge] took the time to go through the charges and the facts to show how much the facts of this case mirror the hate crime charges, which are difficult to reach in a federal setting, “Merritt said.

The charge of violating the law is punishable by imprisonment of up to life imprisonment, the third case of attempted kidnapping with a maximum of 20 years imprisonment. The fourth case, the use of a firearm during a violent crime, carries sentences ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment. Count five carries a life sentence of seven years.

The selection of the jury in the state criminal trial is due to begin on October 18.

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