By Steve Gorman

(Reuters] – A judge rejected a plea agreement on federal hate crimes charges for Ahmaud’s murder last week. According to court records, one of those two men has decided that he will go on trial instead of seeking a new deal.

Gregory McMichael’s lawyers and the federal prosecutors jointly filed a notice of withdrawal from McMichael’s plea agreement. It stated that it was null and void and that each side was ready for trial, reaffirming McMichael’s initial plea of not guilty.

A case docket at the U.S. District Court Brunswick (NYSE:), Georgia showed that McMichael’s Friday change-of-plea hearing had been canceled.

McMichael (66) and Travis (36) were sentenced last month in state court to life imprisonment without parole after being convicted of murder in connection with the shooting death Arbery 25 in February 2020.

William “Roddie,” a 52-year-old neighbor was also sentenced. After 30 years, he is eligible for parole. They are both white.

Arbery was Black and was killed by McMichael, the younger of the three. He was being chased down in pickup trucks while he ran through their suburban neighbourhood.

McMichaels lawyers claimed that they were trying to arrest Arbery as a citizen. They had suspicions of criminal activity and acted in self defense when confronted by him.

After reaching a settlement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in southern Georgia, the father and son agreed to plead guilty and get a sentence of 30 years.

Prosecutors agreed that they would recommend the defendants be moved to a federal penitentiary and held there for 30 years, before returning to Georgia’s prison system. The conditions in Georgia are generally considered more harsh than federal prisons.

After vehement objections by Arbery’s mother, U.S. district Judge Lisa Wood rejected the terms of the plea deal at last week’s hearing for McMichal younger. However, he did admit for the first-time that he pursued Arbery due to his race.

McMichaels and McMichaels were scheduled to appear in court Friday, to enter guilty pleas. The court records indicate that the only person who would attend the hearing was the son, as his father has withdrawn from the plea bargain he had signed on Thursday.

The judge was not sure if Travis McMichael would accept a second plea deal. Bryan was not indicated in court that Bryan was contemplating a plea deal.