The prosecution and the defense delivered their closing arguments today in the trial of Gregory McMichael, Travis McMichael and William "Roddie" Bryan Jr., the three men charged with malice and felony murder in the death of Ahmaud Arbery.
Here's what happened today in court:
- Prosecution delivers closing argument: Lead prosecutor Linda Dunikoski began her closing argument saying the defendants' actions were not a lawful citizen's arrest because they were "not present when any crime was committed." She accused the men of shooting and killing Arbery because he wouldn't stop and talk to them.
- Prosecutor says the defendants "trapped" Arbery: Dunikoski argued the defendants had "trapped" Arbery "between two cars with no weapon, and no way for anyone to help him."
- Defense delivers closing argument: Defense attorney Jason Sheffield began his closing argument saying that before Travis McMichael shot Arbery, he believed "that he has committed the offense of burglary."
- Defense attorney argues defendants performed a citizen's arrest: Sheffield hit back at the prosecution's argument, saying McMichael had "the right to perform a citizen's arrest" and that McMichael viewed Arbery as a "recurring intruder" who might be armed.
- Defense files for mistrial over protests outside courthouse: The defense filed another motion for a mistrial, after seeing a group of protesters with "large weapons" and a coffin containing the name of the defendants on the back of a truck outside the courthouse. Some demonstrators described themselves as members of the New Black Panther Party and the Lion of Judah Armed Forces and said they were exercising their Second Amendment rights.