Arbery killers get life in prison; no parole for father, son

[BumRushDaShow]

Last edited Fri Jan 7, 2022, 05:04 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: AP

BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) — Three white men convicted of murder for chasing and killing Ahmaud Arbery were sentenced to life in prison Friday, with a judge denying any chance of parole for the father and son who armed themselves and initiated the deadly pursuit of the 25-year-old Black man. Murder carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison under Georgia law unless prosecutors seek the death penalty, which they opted against for Arbery’s fatal shooting. For Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley, the main decision was whether to grant Greg and Travis McMichael and their neighbor, William “Roddie” Bryan, an eventual chance to earn parole.

The judge ordered both McMichaels to serve life without parole. Bryan was granted a chance of parole but must first serve at least 30 years in prison. Walmsley said Arbery left his home for a jog and ended up running for his life for five minutes as the men chased him in pickup trucks until they finally cornered him. “Ahmaud Arbery was hunted down and shot, and he was killed because individuals here in the courtroom took the law into their own hands,” the judge said. Before sentencing, Walmsley paused for a minute of silence to help give the scope of what those five minutes must have been like for Arbery.

“When I thought about this, I thought from a lot of different angles. I kept coming back to the terror that must have been in the mind of the young man running through Satilla Shores,” he said, mentioning the neighborhood outside the port city of Brunswick where Arbery was killed. During the sentencing hearing, Arbery’s family had asked the judge to show no lenience. Arbery’s sister recalled his humor, describing him as a positive thinker with a big personality. She told the judge her brother had dark skin “that glistened in the sunlight,” thick, curly hair and an athletic build, factors that made him a target for the men who pursued him.

“These are the qualities that made these men assume that Ahmaud was a dangerous criminal and chase them with guns drawn. To me, those qualities reflect a young man full of life and energy who looked like me and the people I loved,” Jasmine Arbery said.Arbery’s mother said she suffered a personal, intense loss made worse by a trial where the men’s defense was that Arbery made bad choices that led to his death. “This wasn’t a case of mistaken identity or mistaken fact. They chose to target my son because they didn’t want him in their community. They chose to treat him differently than other people who frequently visited their community,” Wanda Cooper-Jones said. “And when they couldn’t sufficiently scare or intimidate him, they killed him.”

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/ahmaud-arbery-georgia-race-and-ethnicity-sentencing-savannah-0d1a8ed25f1a075844160f253a9d0535

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Original article -

BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) — Three white men who chased and killed Ahmaud Arbery were sentenced Friday to life in prison, with a judge denying any chance of parole for the father and son who armed themselves and initiated the deadly pursuit of the 25-year-old Black man.

Greg and Travis McMichael grabbed guns and chased Arbery in a pickup truck after spotting him running in their neighborhood outside the Georgia port city of Brunswick. Neighbor William “Roddie” Bryan joined the pursuit and recorded cellphone video of Travis McMichael blasting Arbery with a shotgun. In November, a jury convicted all three defendants of murder, aggravated assault, false imprisonment and attempted false imprisonment.

Murder carries a mandatory life sentence under Georgia law. The trial judge ordered both McMichaels to serve life without parole. Bryan was granted a chance of parole, but must first serve at least 30 years in prison. The Feb. 23, 2020, killing became part of a larger national reckoning on racial injustice when the video was posted online two months later.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE.

[BigmanPigman]

1. I remember when they all went on Chris Cuomo's CNN show.

They were all so proud of what they had done. I couldn't believe that they were basically confessing on CNN. Cuomo let them talk, digging themselves in further.

[Lasher]

2. I miss Chris Cuomo's show.

[ShazzieB]

17. OMG, I totally missed that!

That is...astounding.

[BigmanPigman]

23. I couldn't believe that they were so stupid,

basically confessing to the murder but they didn't see it that way. Thinking they were not actual murderers due to being white. They thought they were doing the "white man's job" as vigilantes.

[PatSeg]

44. Wow, I didn't see that

That is so disturbing, though I'm glad they've finally gotten what they deserve. It doesn't bring back Ahmaud Arbery though.

[ShazzieB]

61. I am now dying to watch this thing, but I can't find it.

The closest I've come so far is Chris Cuomo interviewing Roddy Bryan and his lawyer. Nothing with the Mcmichaels.

Any idea of the date they were on? That might help narrow things down at least?

[barbtries]

66. me too.

i found an interview with the 3rd guy's lawyer that I couldn't actually sit through, but nothing with the main lynchers.

[BigmanPigman]

81. I think it was fairly soon after it occurred.

Their lawyer was on with them.

[ColinC]

3. Good news.

[Grokenstein]

4. Murdering idiots presumed their "supremacy" would keep them off the hook.

Contending the McMichaels still believed they didn’t do anything wrong, Dunikoski disclosed Friday that Greg McMichael gave Bryan’s cellphone video of the shooting to an attorney, who leaked it.

“He believed it was going to exonerate him,” the prosecutor said.

[calimary]

16. What a relief that they're locked up for life!

And for their compadre who got 30 years with possible parole, still, 30 years is a lifetime.

Five years more than their victim got.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Ahmaud_Arbery

[ShazzieB]

19. Bryan is not a young man, either.

He's about 52, from what I read. He may not outlive that 30 years.

[calimary]

41. Well, do the crime/do the time, Bryan.

I wish I could find some sympathy for these bastards. I’m afraid their unfortunate young victim and his grieving family already took it all.

[samsingh]

26. too many white killers of black people have been allowed to go free

[LittleGirl]

5. Justice Served! nt

[sheshe2]

6. I watched on CNN.

I watched on CNN and loved the judges remarks.

[Jilly_in_VA]

7. Good

Wonder how they'll like being in prison with a bunch of minority guys.

[LoisB]

8. Good.

[Marthe48]

9. won't bring that young man back but verdict might save others

Think twice before you murder in cold blood. You might pay the price.

[Sucha NastyWoman]

55. That is the real value in these sentences

[Tommymac]

10. I will not be surprised if their lives in prison are short and brutish.

Maybe this will act as a counterbalance to Kyle Rittenhouse walking free.

Racists everywhere have to take notice.

[multigraincracker]

15. They won't be in General population.

They will serve in the unit with child molesters, psychos and other cops.

[Dan]

49. Why do you think that they won't be in general population?

Lots of killers in general population - hell, that’s home.

[Skittles]

57. you should not be applauding prison violence

seriously, that is just plain wrong

[stopdiggin]

72. +1. just plain wrong

and needs to stop (at least on DU)

[duhneece]

84. Agreed. All vulnerable people should be safe nt

[Skittles]

87. what they did was very wrong

but prison violence is also wrong

[duhneece]

88. Yeah, because, ultimately....

Prison violence is about us, not them.

[mucifer]

67. I'm sure they will all be in a white supremest prison gang

[relayerbob]

11. Good!

They've shown no real remorse, whatsoever. One of them pulled the now obligatory crying act, but the jury saw right through it.

[DemUnleashed]

12. Fantastic!!

The kind of stuff I want to keep hearing!!

[C Moon]

13. Didn't they almost walk away free after police let them go?

[leftieNanner]

25. Yep

And the prosecutor has been indicted for dereliction of duty or something.

[C Moon]

34. Crazy. Makes you wonder how many other times this had happened

[stopdiggin]

74. one of the defendants

(older McMichaels) had a direct association with the police and prosecutor's office. They were part of the 'club.' And the newly installed prosecutor received a governor's endorsement allowing her to inherit that position - based on her 'no charges' position in this case.

And then the sh*tstorm arrived ...

Also going to point out that bad law (stand your ground, open carry, citizen's arrest .. ) contribute by providing legal cover for action that is inherently belligerent and dangerous.

These men claimed they were making a citizen's arrest (legal, but stupid as sh*t) - with legal weapons - and that the victim 'provoked' lethal action (stand your ground) by 'resisting' arrest, and lunging toward an armed citizen -who is merely 'protecting' himself, and weapon. All of which is to say - under the same statutes - this same situation could easily play out tomorrow, or the next day - or 20 times in the next year.
---- -- -- ----

[leftieNanner]

78. Excellent Post

You tied all the toxic crap into one neat package.

That's what these laws are designed to do.

[AverageOldGuy]

14. "Let justice roll down like a river . . .

. . . and righteousness like a never-ending stream! Amos 5:24

After the three men convicted for the murder of Ahmaud Arbery were sentenced to life in prison, prosecutor Linda Dunikoski requested that they "are not allowed to make any money off of their actions, such as a book deal, a movie deal, social media deal or anything along any way, shape or form make any money off of this experience, this conviction, and this trial." 

She additionally asked if "any money be made, that it go into a fund for the Arbery family." 

https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/ahmaud-arbery-killing-mcmichael-bryan-sentencing/index.html

They showed no remorse. If just once one of them had said "I was wrong. I can never bring him back to life but I was wrong and I will live with the mark of murderer. I was wrong." But they NEVER said one word of remorse. Why not? Because this is Georgia and these goobers did nothing but "shoot a n####r" -- Emmett Till; Schwerner, Chaney, and Goodman; Martin; . . . justice at last!!!!

[calimary]

18. Indeed.

And no remorse. That’s just plain hard to stomach.

[NNadir]

22. An excellent post. Thanks.

[YP_Yooper]

33. The judge's speech was really interesting

He said of the three, only Bryan truly showed remorse, but the conviction was still multiple life sentences. That's why he was granted the possibility of parole. Of course, if I'm correct, they all filed an appeal right there and then.

Still TBD if the judge will ban any financial benefits for the story. That racist defense attorney then cried about how he can get paid if the three can't sell their story :/

Bryan was granted a chance of parole but must first serve at least 30 years in prison.

[maxsolomon]

20. I guess I'm alone in thinking "without possibility of parole"

is unnecessary?

Mandatory life is pretty merciless.

[Hekate]

30. They hunted down a human being like an animal. They were pretty merciless. nt

[maxsolomon]

36. We're not living under the Code of Hammurabi.

Would you have wanted them to get the Death Penalty? No?

Then you believe in some measure of Mercy.

[Hekate]

42. I did not call for the death penalty. Did I?

[maxsolomon]

45. No, you defended the sentence

by saying they hunted Arbery down "like an animal", and that their lack of mercy in turn justifies a lack of mercy by the criminal justice system.

I read your comment. I asked a hypothetical; I didn't say you'd asserted that.

[Hekate]

47. I certainly did defend the sentence

[qazplm135]

59. sorry there's nothing merciless about life without parole

it should certainly be saved for the most heinous of crimes, and this in fact was just that.

The lack of remorse, the repeated attempts to destroy the man's character after he was murdered, the fear that man must have felt after just going out for a jog and ending up shot to death after a five minute chase where he's literally running for his life.

Sorry, not merciless at all. Fair, just, and equivalent to the crime.

Certainly the death penalty would be too much because murder is THAT bad, whether a citizen does it or the state does.

[PatrickforB]

56. I have often felt that life in a cage is far more brutal than simply being shot or hanged.

Funny - we think life is so very sacrosanct, regardless of its quality. With our pro-life attitudes, we consider suicide a crime, and even put medical people in jail for helping people who were in chronic, agonizing pain leave this life.

There are things far, far worse than death. Consider the rotoprone bed, which is basically a rotisserie for a person who cannot breathe and likely won't get any better. It rotates them, you see, like chickens - so they don't get bed sores, or blood clots and have to have limbs amputated. So the machine basically just...rotates them...until death comes to mercifully release them from the hell that their bodies have become.

I think you may be mistaken in your righteous indignation. These men hunted down this kid and shot him to death like an animal. Life in a cage is a far more brutal punishment than simple death. They do deserve it - I quite believe that. Because death would be a surcease for them.

[moriah]

75. Georgia may still be close. The state never asked for the death penalty that I know of....

... and under their law as most updated on Justia they still *can* ask for it even under felony murder alone (as long as the circumstances showed they did intend to kill, and Greg McMichael's own words that he'd have shot Ahmaud himself give that.)

30 years minimum for felony murder may seem harsh, but I have no doubt that the two that got LWOP vs "only" that 30 years had cheered that feature of Georgia law -- just never thought it'd apply to them, or be glad the needle was apparently never on the table.

And Bryan? We still don't know what came of the investigation into other things on his phone (rightfully so if they remained unadjudicated when his trial was coming up -- prejudicial in a major way) -- and well, WRT that the person I have mercy for is the person who, if they still don't have justice in their own name, hopefully feels 30 years is "good enough justice" without having to take the stand if they would prefer not to do so.

The two who got LWOP chased a man who was on foot for at least 4 minutes from the safety and convenience of a truck that could go faster than him without them ever having to breathe hard, didn't tell Bryan to mind his own business and instead used his unasked-for "help" to continue pursuing Ahmaud, and exited that truck armed to ensure he didn't get away -- even if it meant he died. They lynched this man for no better reason than that he ignored their unlawful commands and wanted nothing to do with them.

Mercy in Georgia IS that Travis McMichael won't be strapped to a gurney. And yeah, as a conscientious objector to capital punishment, I'm glad that at least that much has been dealt their way. I'll be happy if Bryan's attempted appeals to change the minimum punishment help many other people in Georgia who did far less than join in a felony clearly dangerous to human life already in progress serving 30 years or more for their parts. Not for him, but for them.

If that makes me seem merciless.... well, so be it.

[ArizonaLib]

32. How long do you think would work?

Consequences must serve as deterrent. There was no showing of remorse by them. Any freedoms they could ever want were taken from the victim and family forever. Minimum life sentence for convicted murder is law in Georgia. The calculation of cost vs benefit for murder must be simple: It is not worth it.

I am certain by your post that you reject cruelty and believe penance should provide opportunity to overcome one's decisions. The victim and victim's family must be considered at least as much. They did not ask for any of this. The convicted did so and showed no remorse. Appeal options I am sure remain for the convicted.

[maxsolomon]

35. Bryan got Life with Possible Parole after 30 years.

I think that is sufficiently harsh. Certainly the father would never see the outside of a prison under that sentence.

But I'm sure that if they'd all got that sentence, there'd be those saying it was too lenient.

Bleeding heart that I am, I think mandatory Life for Murder is too extreme. Other states have a much wider range of sentences.

[ArizonaLib]

48. I am not going to defend the Georgia legal system

Nm

[EndlessWire]

52. Boy, do I disagree.

Mandatory life for an aggravated, unjustified murder is a gift. They may not like their new normal, but, if you do premeditated murder, that's what you should expect. There is no logical reason to show them mercy, especially since the family hasn't come to terms and they asked for the maximum sentence. It is ugly and heartbreaking, but that's what the public is left with, without any ability to do anything else with them. And, the prisoners can always end their own misery by killing themselves in the prison.

They sure didn't give that young man any chance of survival. I just don't see how mandatory life can be considered too extreme. They're lucky they are not going to sit on Death Row for X amount of years before being executed. Let them rot.

[qazplm135]

60. Premeditated murder

is the highest level of murder. That's I believe what this was. Most states have Life with parole as a mandatory sentence for that level of murder.

All of the lower levels have lower max sentences.

The problem is not mandatory life with parole for premeditated murder. It certainly is who gets that charge and who doesn't, usually based on race. It certainly is who gets convicted and who doesn't, again based on race. But it's not the mere fact that the worst crime we have is mandatory life with parole.

[tenderfoot]

63. Beats the death penalty

BTW thank you for looking out for these racists. So sweet of you.

[yardwork]

69. The sentences are sending a message, a necessary message.

Three white men chased and murdered a Black man because their community taught them that that was ok. No just ok, but to be applauded. That's the reality. The judge's sentences might serve as a counter-balance against the deeply ingrained racism that encourages white people to do horrible things.

By the way, I'm white. I know that white racists think this way because they say so, often. Somehow we have to change that. Maybe it changes one sentence at a time.

[intheflow]

71. Life in prison without parole takes their lives away,

just as they took Mr. Arbury's life. Parole is meant for people who show remorse and the ability to be rehabilitated. It's been almost two years and no remorse has been shown by the two sentenced to life without parole. Life is the sentence humane societies impose instead of the death penalty. Suggesting it's akin to the Code of Hammurabi demonstrates you don't really understand the difference between "an eye for an eye" and compassionate sentencing.

[Bayard]

21. Murder--Life without parole

And they weren't even arrested for--what was it? 30 days?

[Upthevibe]

24. Kick. N/T

[leftieNanner]

27. I think it was smart

that the prosecutor didn't go for the death penalty. Let them rot for the rest of their lives in prison.

[DinahMoeHum]

28. Agreed. For self-righteous assholes with no remorse. . .

. . .or forgiveness of heart, life in prison is a far worse punishment than death.

No martydom for them. Let them rot.

[leftieNanner]

31. Plus it's less expensive to house them

Death row is pricey.

And the judicial system won't have to go through multiple rounds of Death Sentence appeals.

[Hekate]

29. There is no "closure"-- but there are consequences and justice has prevailed.

Rest in Peace, Ahmaud Arbery. May your family find solace.

[Traildogbob]

37. Maybe

They will be sent to an all white Georgia prison. Screw that. A segregated prison and the prison outfits are white Kkklan Panama’s and hoods. For life. That’s gonna be a lot of guns not in circulation. But I’m sure the spawn have Already divvied those up.

[mitch96]

38. Is it possible the Governor or next repuke prez would pardon them? nt

[Talitha]

43. I was just wondering the same thing.

[YP_Yooper]

73. Absolutely they can be pardoned :/

[Willis88]

77. Not possible for President to pardon them, but

absolutely possible for Governor. That would be a shitstorm. Nonetheless, Georgians, I hope you vote Stacy Abrams next election and continues voting Democrat.

[pecosbob]

39. I am not one to celebrate anyone's incarceration, but this needed to be done.

[NBachers]

40. Not just prison, but Georgia prison.

[Paladin]

46. How nice to see the punishment fit the crime. (nt)

[Evolve Dammit]

50. Lock the murderers up. Justice served.

[MuseRider]

51. Every once in a while

I get a tiny tingle in my heart that maybe, just maybe we are seeing the beginning of righting of this ship we call home. I know there have been only a few successes but there are now some very good successes like this. For so long I never even hoped to see white men put in jail let alone life time/no parole prison time for shooting anyone different than they are but primarily, very nearly exclusively, black men or black children.

After hearing President Biden take off the gloves and the lovely talk from VP Harris who also was bare knuckled about what happened last year I just feel some movement for progress. It has been so long. The DFG's term felt like 20 lifetimes.

I see defeat with Roe coming and that is going to hurt badly and we will lose some more dearly held rights I am certain. I may not ever see it get back to where we had so much hope (pre Reagan) but to feel the freshening of hearts with this today is just comforting, at least for a bit.

THIS is exactly what had to happen. Anything less and the backwards track in this country would just continue. I just now read this, late to the news and just felt it was putting another chunk of the game in the very right place. It has been so long.

[Withywindle]

80. Beautifully said, MuseRider, thank you!

I think often of that famous quote about the arc of history bending towards justice. It can and it will, but only if people and systems put pressure on it to do so. It won't bend at all on its own without the efforts of many throughout history. This verdict was a powerful push.

[Mr.Bill]

53. I worry that the current or some future

republican governor will commute their sentences.

[yardwork]

70. I don't think that will happen and here's my reasoning:

White southerners don't like to be accused of racism. This was a blatantly racist murder. In my experience, people who reveal the truth about our nation's deep seated racism - like these three murderers - get made examples of. They get thrown under the bus. Nobody will come to their defense.

[Mr.Bill]

76. I hope you are correct. n/t

[Moebym]

54. Good.

[BComplex]

58. I'm really glad those guys are getting what they deserve. I only wish it would send a signal

to the rest of the assholes of the world. Problem is...99.9% of them are too stupid to understand the signal.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

62. This is as it should be. And I admit I didn't expect as much from GA.

Another reason it will be a tragedy if TFG gets elected again--these killers, the convicted insurrectionists, etc he'll pardon.

[The Jungle 1]

64. He was dreaming

We can never know but my bet is that Ahmaud Arbery was walking through that house dreaming about how he would own a house like it one day.

The south tried to repeat history and not hold these pigs accountable. That should not be forgotten! The south failed! There are 5000 documented lynching in our history. We do not know how many really occurred. This is a filthy history. We did bring justice this time.

All those lynchings were the result of not punishing and controlling the south after the civil war. Presently we are attempting to punish the treason that was 1/6. The punishment must be severe.

[NNadir]

65. I was very moved by the parents' impact statements, and filled with admiration for Judge Walmsly...

... and in particular the eloquent, no nonsense, prosecutor, Linda Dunikoski.

Ms. Dunikoski spoke powerfully for justice and for the law, a modern day equivalent of Atticus Finch, this time on the winning side.

It is a shame that the Arbery family had to go through what they did to get justice, and horrible that they lost a son they loved, but overall this trial made me hope that not is all lost in America.

[myohmy2]

68. good...

...

[colsohlibgal]

79. Enjoy Prison Losers

Have fun in Prison you Racist jerks.

[TexasBushwhacker]

82. Bryan is 52

Having to serve at 30 years of his life sentence means he will likely die in prison as well.

[Aussie105]

83. The psychology of what happened is difficult to understand.

You can have a group of immature teenage males getting drunk and hyped up giving each other permission to do something stupid and illegal, but these were older, and hopefully more mature and intelligent adults.

Some prison shrink could write a book as to what happened and why it happened.

The three guys looked deeply shocked in court. Like they couldn't believe what had happened.
Yes, they were there. No, they can't explain why.

[oldsoftie]

85. I hope they finally start giving LWOP (if the the DP) to the REST of the murderers

I've seen far too many blatant murderers get as little as 18 yrs in the past. That case was close to where I lived; a man broke into a hotel room and murdered a texas woman to steal her money & jewelry. And he got 18 yrs. I was livid. He should've been given the needle

[twodogsbarking]

86. Wishing them the best in their forever home.