Good Men

The three white men convicted of killing a black jogger have been sentenced to life in prison, with only the possibility of parole for one.

In November, a jury found Travis and Gregory McMichael and their neighbour, William Bryan, guilty of murdering Ahmaud Arbery in February 2020.

Arbery's family on Friday said such a verdict would help bring " closure to a difficult chapter".

The case has raised questions about racial justice in the US South.

Arbery, 25, a resident of Brunswick, Georgia, was out jogging in an adjacent, predominantly white neighbourhood when The Trio chased and cornered him in pick-up trucks before the younger McMichael shot him during a struggle.

The Defendants argued they acted in self-defence while attempting to make a citizen's arrest of a suspected burglar, but prosecutors argued race was a factor.

Gregory McMichael, 66, his son Travis, 35, and Bryan, 52, who filmed The Incident , were found guilty of murder, aggravated assault, false imprisonment and Criminal Intent to commit a felony.

On Friday, Judge Timothy Walmsley sentenced the three to life behind bars but allowed Bryan the possibility of seeking parole in 30 years.

Ahead of The Verdict , members of the Arbery family delivered powerful victim impact statements as they called for the three men to face the harshest possible punishments.

" Ahmaud never said a word to them, he never threatened them, he just wanted to be Left Alone , " said His Mother Wanda Cooper Jones.

" They were fully committed to their crimes, so let them be fully committed for the consequences. "

Ms Jones, who sat in the courtroom throughout The Trial , also spoke directly to her late son.

" This verdict doesn't bring you back, but it does help bring closure to this very difficult chapter of My Life , " She Said .

" I made A Promise to you The Day I laid you to rest: I told you I love you and someday, somehow, I would get you justice. "

Jasmine Arbery recalled her Younger Brother 's love of the outdoors, his athletic build and " dark skin that glistened in the sunlight like gold".

" These are the qualities that made these men assume Ahmaud was a dangerous criminal and chase him with guns drawn, " She Said .

" To me those qualities reflected a young man with life and energy who looked Like Me and The People I love. "

Arbery's father Marcus lamented how he would never spend Another Day with a child who changed his life.

Defence attorneys had argued for some leniency for The Men , with attorneys Bob Rubin and Laura Hogue saying their clients were Good Men devoted to family, community and country who committed " one bad act".

" As thoughtless or reckless as these actions may have been, they are not evidence of a soul so blackened as to deserve life with no parole, " said Mr Rubin.

But lead prosecutor Linda Dunikoski rebuffed The Argument : " Travis McMichael said This Was the worst day of his life. Well how did that Work Out for Ahmaud Arbery? "

Attorney Kevin Gough however argued that declining to provide his client, William Bryan, no possibility of parole would be " unconstitutionally cruel and disproportionate".

All three defence lawyers have said they plan to appeal the verdicts.

The Defendants also face a federal Hate Crimes trial next month, alleging that they targeted Arbery because he was black.

Arbery's mother told US media on Friday she has rejected the offer of a plea deal that would see them spend 30 years in federal prison on top of the Prison Time handed down in state Court .

Source of news: bbc.com