Defense attorneys rest in trial over Arbery’s death

Compiled from multiple Associated Press stories

Gregory McMichael, Travis McMichael and William Bryan, on trial in the death of Ahmaud Arbery. Photos from 2020.[Glynn County Sheriff's Office ]

BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) — Defense attorneys for the three men accused of killing Ahmaud Arbery rested Thursday after calling a total of seven witnesses. The people who testified in the men’s defense included the man who fatally shot Arbery, Travis McMichael.

McMichael testified that the 25-year-old Black man did not speak, show a weapon or threaten him in any way before McMichael raised his shotgun and pointed it at him. On his second day of testimony Thursday, Travis McMichael said he was “under the impression” that Arbery could be a threat because he was running straight at him and he had seen Arbery trying to get into the truck of a neighbor. McMichael’s testified on Wednesday that Arbery attacked him and grabbed his shotgun.

Six neighbors testified about their concerns regarding crime in the neighborhood.

McMichael and his father, Greg McMichael, armed themselves and pursued the 25-year-old Black man in a pickup truck after he ran past their home from the house under construction. A neighbor, William “Roddie” Bryan, joined the chase in his own truck and recorded cellphone video. All of the defendants are white.