The killing defendant, Ahmaud Arbery, modified his tale, according to his testimony.
BRUNSWICK, GA. (AP) – Two police officers testified Tuesday that the man who launched the pursuit that resulted in Ahmaud Arbery’s murder swiftly altered his account about why he feared the 25-year-old Black man rushing through his neighborhood was a criminal.
Officer Jeff Brandeberry of Glynn County police told a jury that Greg McMichael, one of three white males on trial for murder in the case, first informed him that Arbery had been seen on security cameras “breaking in all these homes out here.”
“Well, he makes regular travels to the area and gets captured on video cameras every third or fourth night breaking into places and no one’s been able to catch him,” McMichael said to Brandeberry, who read from a transcript of the exchange recorded by his body camera in open court.
The officer said that he talked with McMichael at the site of the shooting, where Arbery’s corpse was lying beneath a sheet on the road nearby, when police arrived on Feb. 23, 2020.
McMichael’s story changed when he talked with a Glynn County investigator late that day at police headquarters. Whereas he had first accused the murdered guy for many break-ins, McMichael now informed Detective Parker Marcy that the invader had targeted a single property — one that was still under construction and had no doors or windows.
McMichael told Marcy he had seen “two or three recordings” of “this man breaking into or being or strolling around inside this residence,” according to Marcy.
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Greg McMichael, his adult son Travis McMichael, and neighbor William “Roddie” Bryan have all been charged with murder and other offences in connection with Arbery’s death. They were never apprehended by Glynn County police. Instead, charges were filed more than two months later, when cellphone footage of the shooting was released online and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation took over the investigation. The video generated outrage in the midst of a national crisis over racial injustice.
Prosecutors said the men had no legal justification to follow Arbery with weapons since there is no proof Arbery committed any crimes in the Satilla Shores community outside of Brunswick.
Prosecutor Linda Dunikoski presented the jury security camera footage from inside the under construction home, which was captured soon before the tragic pursuit. Arbery is shown strolling around the open-framed room but without touching anything. He raced outside after a neighbor who had phoned the cops.
“Did you see him taking or stealing anything from this location?” Dunikoski inquired of Marcy.
“No, ma’am,” the detective answered.
According to the defense counsel, the defendants had caused to assume Arbery was a burglar.
Greg McMichael’s attorney, Franklin Hogue, said that during the same interview in which his client informed the investigator about Arbery entering the under-construction home, he also mentioned “many entering automobiles and break-ins” elsewhere in the area.
According to the transcript, Greg McMichael remarked, “Logic tells you this person may be the one doing it.”
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Greg McMichael claimed the pursuit started on a Sunday afternoon when he noticed Arbery “hauling ass” past his house. He raced home and grabbed a.357 magnum pistol, claiming he recognized Arbery from security camera footage supplied to him by a neighbor who was not accused in the case. Travis McMichael armed himself with a shotgun before driving a pickup vehicle following Arbery.
Bryan joined the pursuit in his own pickup and videotaped Travis McMichael shooting Arbery at close range.
Travis McMichael, according to his counsel, opened fire in self-defense. Greg McMichael, according to Brandeberry, informed him at the scene, “He assaulted my son.” He charged towards him. He attempted to pull the shotgun away from me.”
Marcy stated that Greg McMichael told him he armed himself because he suspected Arbery of stealing a firearm from his son’s pickup many weeks before, but he admitted he had no evidence. According to the investigator, he inquired if the footage showing Arbery inside the under construction house showed him picking up or stealing anything.
“You know, not that I remember,” Greg McMichael said, according to the interview transcript given in court by the investigator. “I don’t believe the man took anything out of there, or if he did, it was early in the process.” But he comes back to this terrible mansion again and over.”
The panel of judges Several images were released by authorities on Tuesday after the shooting of Travis McMichael, who had Arbery’s blood on his hands and arms, as well as spattering his shirt, face, and neck.
Greg McMichael also had blood on his left hand, which he said police he used to check Arbery for a weapon after the gunshot when Arbery lay facedown on the street with one arm tucked under him, according to Brandeberry.
Greg McMichael subsequently told police that he yelled a warning to Arbery during the pursuit after the running guy defied the instructions of the men in the vehicle to halt.
“I shouted, ‘Stop,’ you know, ‘I’ll blow your f—-ing head off,’ or whatever,” he explained to Marcy. “I was trying to make it clear to this man that we’re not playing, you know?”
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Testimony: Ahmaud Arbery slaying defendant changed his story
