Jonathan Allen

BRUNSWICK (Ga.) -Ahmaud Arbery was pursued by three men wearing pickup trucks through their predominantly white neighborhood of southern Georgia. One of them told police that Ahmaud looked tired after the chase, before he was killed. A jury heard the testimony Monday.

Gregory McMichael (65); Travis McMichael (55); and William “Roddie Bryan (52) have pleaded no guilty to the charges of murder. If convicted of the most serious offense by the jury (11 white men and 1 Black man), they could spend life behind bars.

They believe Arbery fled from a crime and ran through Satilla Shores (a predominantly white neighbourhood) on February 2, 2020. The men followed him with pickup trucks for several more minutes, before McMichael pointed the shotgun at Arbery.

These are the most important moments of witness testimony at Glynn County Superior Court’s second day.

RICKY MINSHEW PATROL OFFICER AT GLYNN COUNTY POLICEDEPARTMENT

Minshew stated that Bryan said to Minshew that Arbery didn’t recognise him when he ran past Bryan’s driveway. Minshew added that Bryan did not know the McMichaels while they were driving by the scene in pursuit of their pickup truck.

“He said he hollered at the truck: ‘Y’all got him?'” Minshew said that Bryan had told him to jump in his truck and join the chase before Minshew referred to the transcript on Bryan’s body-worn cam.

“Did the Black guy ever ask him if it was okay?” Minshew was questioned by Larissa Ollivre, one the Cobb County District Attorneys.

Minshew replied, “No ma’am. He didn’t say that he did.”

“Should he have been following me? Minshew was told by Bryan that he didn’t know. Bryan spoke to Minshew just minutes after shooting. Minshew stood a few meters away from Arbery’s body, which is evident in the transcript. Bryan stated that Bryan never used his seatbelt and was able to have been “thrown through the damn windshield trying chasing this joker.”

Arbery stopped to take a deep breath.

Bryan explained to Minshew that it almost seemed like Arbery was exhausted of running as soon as I turned the corner. Bryan claimed that Arbery had tried opening the truck door of his vehicle once.

According to the prosecutor, the prosecution tried to weaken the defense argument by claiming that Arbery and the other white men wanted to arrest Arbery pursuant to a citizen’s arrest law. The law required that an individual have reasonable suspicion of a recent felony.

Bryan claimed to the officer that he had never heard from Arbery. However, he did hear one McMichae call Arbery out: “What’d your steal?” How did you get there?

“Did Ahmaud say that he said to Ahmaud that they were under arrest?” Ollivierre asked Minshew.

Minshew responded, “No, ma’am.”

SHEILA RAMOS – INVESTIGATOR, GLYNN COUNTY POLICY DEPARTMENT

Ramos was the first investigator to arrive on the scene. He took many crime-scene photos showing Arbery’s naked body under a bloodstained white sheet.

She also photographed Travis McMichael’s 12-gauge pump-action shotgun on grass next to the body. There were also shotgun shells on the asphalt.

They watched as the jury looked at the photographs after Arbery was stripped of the sheet. Bryan made notes using a yellow legal paper. Some jurors seemed to be squirming.

These photographs showed close-ups showing a large gunshot wound at the centre of Arbery’s chest. There was another near his left armpit. One on his wrist. Wanda Cooper Jones was Arbery’s mother and watched from the gallery in courtroom.

Ramos stated to the jury that Arbery didn’t have anything on him, other than the clothes he was wearing. His pockets were also empty.

Travis McMichael’s shotgun was brought to court in a large box and made into evidence.