On Feb. 23, 2020, jogger Ahmaud Arbery, 25, waschased down Satilla Drive to the corner of Holmes Road in the quiet Brunswick enclave of Satilla Shores.
There, Arbery was shot three times with a shotgun by 35-year-old Travis McMichael. Travis's father, former Glynn County police officer Gregory McMichael, 65, and their neighborWIlliam "Roddie" Bryan, 52, who filmed the killing on his phone, also face murder charges.
As jury selection begins in Glynn County on Oct. 18 followed by th,the Savannah Morning News is reviewing detailsat the case, including a timeline of events and a list of the key players:
Whoisinvolved Brunswick case?
Ahmaud Arbery
By all accounts, Arberyranto relieve stress. Family and friends said the Brunswick High School graduatehad a series of starts and stops before deciding to go back to school and become an electrician.His life was cut short while jogging on Feb. 23, when he crossed over I-17 from his neighborhood and into the Satilla Shores community.
As often is the case, fromTrayvon Martin to George Floyd, the murder victim's past is on trial. Arbery had troubles in his past — a gun and a shoplifting charge — none which the McMichael's could not have known when they chased him through the street.
Chatham County Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley, who will presideover the trial, has ruled Arbery’s past cannot be used by the defense.
Gregory McMichael
Before his arrest and indictment on murder charges, Gregory McMichael served as an officer with the Glynn County Police Department, andhe workedin the Glynn County DistrictAttorney’s officeas an investigatorunder former DA Jackie Johnson. As an investigator, Gregory McMichael was stripped of his law enforcement certification and arrest privileges for failure to complete use-of-force training.
Travis McMichael
The son of Gregory McMichael, Travis McMichael reported a pistol stolen from his unlocked vehicle prior to Arbery's shooting. He is seen on Bryan's videofiring thefatal shots into Arbery.
William Bryan
Bryan lived a few doors away from the McMichaels in the Satilla Shores neighborhood. He joinedthem in the chaseafter Arbery and filmed the entire ordeal from his car.Bryan now facesfelony murder and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment.
Jackie Johnson
LongtimeBrunswick Judicial CircuitDistrict AttorneyJackie Johnsonrose through the ranks afterserving as assistant district attorney for 12 years, according to a jacksonville.com article.Four of those years were spent as managing prosecutorin the Camden County office.
Former Gov. Sonny PerdueappointedJohnson asDA in August 2010, making her the first woman to serve as DA over the circuit coveringAppling, Camden, Glynn, Jeff Davis,and Wayne counties.
Following criticism for her handling of the case, residents voted her out of office in November 2020.
On Sept. 2,Johnson was indicted oncharges ofobstruction of a police officer and violation of oath of office.
Flynn Broady Jr.
Broady, an Army veteran and prosecutor, began his tenure as Cobb County District Attorney on Jan. 1, 2021. Prior to being elected DA, the Birmingham nativespent more than two decades in the U.S. Army as an instructor, recruiter, and combat infantryman with tours in Iraq. He previously prosecuted cases in the Solicitor General’s Office and also served as coordinator of the Veterans Treatment and Accountability Court. Three district attorneys recused themselves from this case before Broady.
Who are the Defense Attorneys
Attorneys for the McMichaels and Bryan come from across the state. RobertRubin and JasonSheffield practice withthe PetersRubin and Hodgeslaw firmin Decatur. They represent TravisMcMichael, and have received acquittals in high-profile murder cases, and have had charges dismissed after indictment,including one involving the death of a shaken baby.Laura and Frank Hogue,based in Macon,represent Gregory McMichael. Brunswick-based lawyersKevin Gough and Jessica Burton representBryan.
Kevin Gough
Goughmade headlines when he asked if Black pastors such as Rev. Jesse Jackson could be barred from coming into the courtroom.
Who is attorney Kevin Gough:Why does he want Black pastors tossed out Ahmaud Arbery trial?
The civil rights leader joined Arbery's family, sparking a tense discussion among the attorneys and a motion for mistrial over Jackson's presence and after Arbery's mother was heard weeping in the gallery.Judge Timothy Walmsley also denied the motion for mistrial
TimothyWalmsley
Chatham County Superior CourtJudge Timothy Wamsley was selectedto presideover the case in May 2020 after five Superior Court judges in the five-county Brunswick Judicial Circuit removed themselves from the cases.
According to a previous report by Savannah Morning News'Jan Skutch,"once those judges recused themselves, it sent the matter to Kight of the Waycross Judicial Circuit Superior Court, who serves as administrative judge for the 22-county 1st Judicial District, which covers Coastal Georgia into Bulloch, Tattnall and Jenkins counties.
Kightappointed Walmsley, one of six Superior Court judges in the single-county Eastern Judicial Circuit.
Walmsley was first appointed to theChatham County Superior Court by Gov. Nathan Deal in February 2012, the Savannah Morning News previously reported.
Before his appointment, Walmsley worked as a civil litigator focusing on real estate and commercial issues with the Hunter/Maclean law firm, where he was a partner.Upon taking the bench, he was assigned to the court’s Major Crimes Division, handling the county’s most serious offenses, including murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, and drug trafficking.
Walmsley served in the division for three years before he moved to the Other Felony Crimes Division in 2015.He returned to the Major Crimes Division in January 2020 for a two-year rotation.
Resulting trials
Apart from the state trial, theMcMichaelsand Bryan face federal hate crimes charges and are the subject of a civil lawsuit filed byArbery’smother, Wanda Cooper-Jones.
Federal hate crime and kidnapping charges were filed against the three men onApril 28.The McMichaels also face gun charges. Jury selection for that trial is slated to begin Feb. 7, 2022.
Cooper-Jones filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit against the McMichaels,Bryanand Johnson. Former Glynn County Police Chief John Powell,Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney George Barnhill, and several Glynn County police officers also are named in the lawsuit.
Cooper-Jones is seeking $1 million in damages.
Raisa is a Watchdog and Investigative Reporter for The Savannah Morning News.Contact her at rhabersham@gannett.com.
