(Reuters) – A lawyer for one of the three white men charged with killing Ahmaud Arbery said his team did not want “any more Black pastors coming” into the Georgia courtroom after a civil rights leader attended proceedings.

Kevin Gough’s comments on Thursday were sharply criticized by the Rev. Al Sharpton, who the defense attorney mentioned when asking the judge in this high-profile case for exclusion of African-American clergy.

Arbery (25-year-old Black man) was attacked by the men in pursuit and then shot to death in a predominantly white neighbourhood in Brunswick (NYSE. Three men pleaded not guilty in this case to murder, aggravated attack and false imprisonment.

It’s okay if their pastor is Al Sharpton. That’s all. Attorney Kevin Gough representing defendant William “Roddie”, Bryan, said that we don’t want any Black pastors in the area… trying to influence a juror in this case.”

Sharpton was present at the trial Wednesday, and he conducted a prayer-vigil alongside Arbery’s family outside the courthouse. He stated this on his Twitter (NYSE) account.

As recent police killings of Black Americans have spurred a new push for civil rights in America, the death of George Floyd last year captured on video has led to worldwide protests.

Sharpton stated, “The insensitivity and arrogance of attorney Kevin Gough asking a judge for me to be barred or any minister of my family’s choice underlines the disregard for human life lost. It also highlights the neglect of the grieving of a loved one in dire need (of) support spiritual and communal.”

According to him, he attended “not disrupting in any way” at his invitation.

Gough said that Sharpton was not brought to his attention until the end of Judge Timothy Walmsley’s session. Gough suggested that Sharpton’s presence could be “consciously or unconsciously” an effort to influence or pressure the jury.

Gough was told by the judge that he wasn’t going to exclude all members of public from the courtroom.

Bryan McMichael (52) and Gregory McMichael (65) are neighbors. Travis McMichael is Travis McMichael’s son. If convicted of murder, they will face the death penalty.

The jury was shown videos on Thursday of Arbery walking around a vacant property on earlier visits to the Georgia neighborhood where he was shot. According to the prosecution, Arbery used to run a lot and would go for Sunday afternoon runs.