Father-son duo who killed Ahmaud Arbery receive ADDITIONAL life sentence for hate crime charge
BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA: The father-and-son duo who shot and killed the unarmed Black jogger Ahmaud Arbery received an additional life sentence on Monday, August 8, while their neighbor who filmed the incident was given an extra 35 years in prison.
Travis and Greg McMichael, 36 and 66 respectively, were given an additional life term in jail by a federal court after they were convicted of hate crimes in connection with the February 2020 slaying of 25-year-old Arbery in Brunswick, Georgia. William Roddy Bryan, a neighbor who filmed the killing, received an extra 35 years. The trio was already serving life sentences after being convicted by a Georgia state court in January.
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It's worth noting that Monday's sentences are all concurrent to the existing terms. While the McMichaels have been jailed without the possibility of parole, Bryan may be freed if a parole board ever decides to release him.
BREAKING: The GBI has just arrested William 'Roddy' Bryan. He is charged with Felony Murder & Criminal Attempt to Commit False Imprisonment in the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery. pic.twitter.com/dW4FA48u90
— Hayley Mason (@HayleyMasonTV) May 21, 2020
The father and son also were denied a request to be moved to federal prison on Monday, August 8, after expressing fear for their lives over a revenge attack in light of their brutal shooting of Arbery. A disturbing clip of the violent murder in broad daylight sparked outrage across the country and led to the arrest of Ahmaud Arbery's killers in the wake of George Floyd's May 2020 demise.
"I'm concerned that my client faces an effective backdoor death penalty," Greg McMichael's attorney, Amy Lee Copeland, said in court on Monday, adding, "I understand the rich irony, judge, of expressing that my client will face vigilante justice himself." Arbery was shot by Travis while his dad Greg stood guard. Bryan was right behind the duo, filming the grim scene as it unfolded. The victim's aunt Diane Arbery delivered an emotional impact statement during Greg's original sentencing, admonishing the father for being irresponsible towards his son. "As a father, you should've known better, but as a human being you should've done better," she said at the time.
“I am unable to forgive you at this time,” #AhmaudArbery’s aunt tells Greg McMichael in a victim impact statement. "Every time I see that video and witness how Ahmaud was hunted down and killed like he was an animal, I gasp for breath.” @FCN2go pic.twitter.com/mBFNNvt2D0
— anne schindler (@schindy) August 8, 2022
Before he was sentenced, Greg addressed the Arberys and said he understood "that the loss you've endured is beyond description." He added, "I'm sure that my words mean very little to you, but I want to assure you that I didn't want any of this to happen."
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Judge Lisa Godbey Wood told Bryan on Monday, "Let no one think that 420 months is a light sentence. Because you don't deserve a light sentence." Travis McMichael was handed life without parole plus ten years, while his father Greg received life without parole. Aside from the hate crime charges, the three men were also convicted of attempted kidnapping and using a firearm to commit a crime. The McMichaels were armed with shotguns and used a pickup truck to chase the jogger after he ran past their home on February 23, 2020. Bryan joined the pursuit in his own truck and recorded a cellphone video of Travis McMichael blasting Arbery at point-blank range.