WAYNESBORO, GA – FEBRUARY 23: A painting of Ahmaud Arbery is displayed during a vigil at New Springfield Baptist Church on February 23, 2021 in Waynesboro, Georgia. Arbery, a Black man, was shot and killed while jogging near Brunswick, Georgia a year ago today after being chased by two white men. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
A court in Georgia struggles to seat impartial jurors for a high-profile trial due to a viral video.
Jury selection began last week in the trial of three men accused of gunning down Ahmaud Arbery while he was jogging in a Brunswick neighborhood in February of 2020. The widely seen cell phone footage captured by one of the defendants prompted nationwide protests over Arbery’s death.
One potential juror told the court, “I saw the news footage and I saw the video footage of the crime, and I’ve already formed a guilty opinion of the crime.”
All three men that unjustly killed Ahmaud Arbery need to be criminally held accountable! Ahmaud committed no crime and was exercising his RIGHT to jog through his community! Nothing can justify Gregory McMichael's, Travis McMichael's, and William Bryan’s fatal actions! pic.twitter.com/PWLF7mPLT1
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) October 21, 2021
The judge overseeing the trial is seeking an initial pool of 64 jurors, but only 23 have been chosen so far. A final panel of 12 jurors and four alternates is needed for the trial.
Meanwhile, all three defendants, Greg McMichael, Travis McMichael and William “Roddie” Bryan have pleaded not guilty to federal hate crime charges. If convicted, each face life in prison.
This combination of booking photos provided by the Glynn County, Ga., Detention Center, shows, from left, Travis McMichael, his father, Gregory McMichael, and William “Roddie” Bryan Jr. On Friday, Oct. 1, 2021. (Glynn County Detention Center via AP, File)
Source: One America News Network
