Defense Rests In Ahmaud Arbery Murder Trial

The defense team rested its case on Friday in the trial involving the death of Ahmaud Arbery.

As reported by NPR, “Judge Timothy Walmsley released the jury until Monday when they’re expected to hear closing arguments.”

Three white men, Travis McMichael, his father, Gregory McMichael, and their neighbor, William “Roddie” Bryan, are facing charges in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, including murder and aggravated assault. They could spend their lives in prison.

Travis McMichael, 35, took the stand at the trial in Georgia this week.

In February 2020, Travis and Gregory McMichael grabbed guns and chased Arbery after he ran past their home. Bryan followed after and recorded video on his phone of the event. Arbery was shot by Travis McMichael after a confrontation between the two.

Head prosecutor Linda Dunikoski cross-examined Travis McMichael on Thursday.

“Not once during your statement to the police did you say that you and your father were trying to arrest Mr. Arbery, did you?” Dunikoski asked.

“‘No, ma’am,’ McMichael answered. He later said he never had time to tell Arbery that he was under arrest for any crime,” NPR reported.

The outlet noted that there were new facts discussed on Thursday.

It added:

McMichael introduced two new details on Thursday — first, by saying that during the chase, Arbery briefly stopped running, and second, by saying that Arbery took off again after McMichael told him the police were coming.

Dunikowski questioned him about those details, saying McMichael had not relayed them in earlier statements to police. McMichael said he was nervous and traumatized after the shooting.

The outlet continued:

Dunikoski reviewed McMichael’s actions and statements about the McMichaels’ chase. She has previously said the pursuit lasted five minutes.

The prosecutor noted that McMichael told Arbery to stop; McMichael says it was a request, not an order. He also confirmed that when he was chasing Arbery, the man wasn’t carrying anything — a bag, backpack or a weapon.

“Yes, he was just running,” McMichael said.

He then said he didn’t think he startled Arbery when he drove his pickup truck up alongside him.

“I want to talk to you,” McMichael said he told Arbery.

At that point, Arbery stopped, turned and started running back the way he came, he said.

McMichael says he reversed his truck to follow Arbery and asked him what had happened near the house where Arbery had been seen moments before.

McMichael also spoke about his training in the Coast Guard, where “his duties also included law enforcement and search-and-rescue operations, he

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