Jonathan Allen

BRUNSWICK GA (Reuters) – A jury of five heard that two white men were captured on surveillance footage of Ahmaud, a Black man, walking through a southern Georgia house 12 days before they shot and chased him.

Robert Rash of Glynn Country police told Gregory McMichael (and his son Travis McMichael) that “nobody seems to understand who this kid or where he came from,” after showing the clips to them, as per body-worn cam video, played in court.

Both McMichaels, and Bryan’s neighbor William “Roddie”, have pleaded guilty not to murder and aggravated assault. If convicted in murder, they could spend life behind bars.

They believe Arbery may have been the man they saw running through Satilla Shores on Feb. 23, 2020, as he was caught on video in the house that had only half of its construction.

The two men followed Arbery around in pick-up trucks for several more minutes. McMichael, the younger, pointed a shotgun to Arbery’s head and fired. While their lawyers claim that this was self-defense and the men were defending a Black male who went for a run, prosecutors state they “feared the worst.”

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

ROBERT RASH is the GLYNN COUNTY POLICE OPERATOR

Arbery first was caught on security cameras entering the Satilla Shores home under construction the night of October 25, 2019. Larry English, property owner wanted to have police identify Arbery in the surveillance footage and inform him that he should not enter the house again.

Arbery was again recorded walking through the site’s unfenced construction on November 18, 2019. However, English says that nothing was ever taken that day. Rash stated to the jury that the footage would be shown to others as he went, though no one could identify him.

Rash met Greg McMichael on December 20, 2019. He knew McMichael from his old job as an investigative for the local district attorneys.

Rash replied, “I spoke with him in reference the unidentified Black Male.”

McMichael asked McMichael to change the language of his cell phone number. Rash claimed that McMichael gave this information because McMichael has the experience and training to provide a reliable witness for the police in the event the man returns.

Linda Dunikoski, the prosecutor asked Rash if he was replacing McMichael. Rash denied it.

“So you wanted him as a witness to help identify the guy?” Dunikoski asked.

Rash replied, “Yes,”

Prosecutors want to refute a defense argument that they were trying to get a citizen arrested for Arbery in violation of a Georgia law. The law states that there must be reasonable belief that someone flees from a grave felony offense they have just committed.

Residents saw Arbery once more on the property the night before, so Travis McMichael raced over to get his gun. He saw Arbery in his car’s headlights briefly.

Rash quickly arrived and performed for McMichaels the video English sent him via his cell phone.

According to his video, Rash informs McMichaels that “this guy is always on foot”, and nobody knows him. English had never seen Arbery wandering about, he tells them. Rash states that he hasn’t ever seen him take anything.

Gregory McMichael replied, “It’s illegal trespassing.” Georgia law considers criminal trespassing a misdemeanor.

Rash says, “Yeah. Yeah, at least.”

(Refiling to rectify Robert Rash’s name in paragraphs 9-20