Jury selection continues in Ahmaud Arbery murder trial, with judge selecting ...

Jury selection continues in Ahmaud Arbery murder trial, with judge selecting ...
Jury selection continues in Ahmaud Arbery murder trial, with judge selecting ...

Nine more jury candidates for the murder trial of Ahmaud Arbery were deemed impartial enough to remain in the final pool of 64 as the process to seat jurors crawled into its second week in a Georgia courtroom. 

The nine potential jurors join 23 who were previously approved, bringing the total number of prospective panelists to just half of the 64 needed before a final jury of 12 and four alternates is chosen.

Glynn County Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley has said it is possible he may not seat a final jury until next week, with potential jurors being told they could be needed through the week of Thanksgiving, according to News 4 Jax.

Judge Timothy Walmsley deemed a total of 32 prospective jurors impartial enough to remain in the final pool of 64 potential jurors

Judge Timothy Walmsley deemed a total of 32 prospective jurors impartial enough to remain in the final pool of 64 potential jurors

Ahmaud Arbery, 25, was killed on February 23, 2020, while he was out for a run in his neighborhood

Ahmaud Arbery, 25, was killed on February 23, 2020, while he was out for a run in his neighborhood

A total of 71 jurors have now been questioned by Walmsley, prosecutors and defense attorneys since last Monday, but 39 have been disqualified either because they had personal hardships or were ruled to be biased in the case. 

Most of the potential jurors said they have seen the now-viral video of Travis McMichael, 34, shooting Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old unarmed black man, on February 23, 2020.   

McMichael and his father, Gregory, had spotted Arbery running through their neighborhood outside Brunswick, Georgia that day and armed themselves before pursuing him in a pickup truck.

Another white neighbor, William 'Roddie' Bryan, later joined the chase, and the three eventually tracked Arbery down, with a video showing Travis McMichael shooting him three times at close-range.

Nobody was charged in Arbery's death until two months later after Bryan's cellphone video of the chase and the shooting leaked online and sparked a nationwide call for justice.

A federal indictment alleges the McMichaels armed themselves with firearms, got into a truck and chased Arbery through the public streets of the neighborhood while yelling at Arbery, using their truck to cut off his route and threatening him with firearms.'

It also alleged that Bryan got into a truck and then chased Arbery before using the vehicle to block his path.

The indictment alleges that the men 'used force and threats of force to intimidate and interfere with Arbery's right to use a public street because of his race'.

In addition to the hate-crime charges, prosecutors allege the men tried 'to unlawfully seize and confine Arbery by chasing after him in their trucks in an attempt to restrain him, restrict his free movement, corral and detain him against his will, and prevent his escape'.

The McMichaels and Bryan already face state criminal charges of murder, aggravated assault, false imprisonment and criminal attempt to commit a felony but no trial date has been set.

But if convicted in this trial, the McMichaels and Bryan face life in prison. 

Their lawyers have opted to try to find an impartial jury in Glynn County, a community of about 85,000 people, where the shooting dominated headlines, social media feeds and workplace chatter.

Brunswick, where the shooting took place, is a predominately black community, whereas Glynn County, where the jurors are being selected, is mostly white. 

Travis McMichael (left), his father Gregory McMichael (center) and their friend William 'Roddie' Bryan (right) have all been charged with federal hate crimes in the death of Ahmaud Arbery

Travis McMichael (left), his father Gregory McMichael (center) and their friend William 'Roddie' Bryan (right) have all been charged with federal hate crimes in the death of Ahmaud Arbery

Bryan attended jury selection on Tuesday, as he faces murder charges

Bryan attended jury selection on Tuesday, as he faces murder charges

Greg McMichael was also seen on Tuesday as the jury selection progressed

Greg McMichael was also seen on Tuesday as the jury selection progressed

Travis McMichael, who allegedly shot Arbery at close-range, was seen staring straight ahead as jury selection continued on Tuesday

Travis McMichael, who allegedly shot Arbery at close-range, was seen staring straight ahead as jury selection continued on Tuesday

Each of the prospective jurors were asked questions individually, and as a group, with defense attorneys asking them if they support the Black Lives Matter movement or 'believe people of color are not treated fairly in the criminal justice system.'

The potential jurors have allegedly been asked questions like: 'Do you support the Black Lives Matter movement?' and 'Do you believe the Confederate flag is a racist symbol?,' according to USA Today. Travis McMichael, had a truck that had a confederate flag vanity plate. 

But many of the 1,000 registered voters in Glynn County, Georgia, who received jury summons claim they knew Arbery, the defendants or potentially witnesses.

A lawyer for Bryan, even appeared to know one of the potential jurors, according to USA Today. 

He called the small town a 'fishbowl' and insinuated that everyone knows everyone. 

Many jurors have claimed to know at least one person attached to the case, with two even claiming one of the witnesses used to cut their hair. 

Another juror claimed they were coworkers with the best friend of Bryan's wife. 

'My coworkers are best friends with Roddie's wife, we discuss this case all the time,' one juror allegedly wrote on a questionnaire handed out to each prospective juror about their knowledge and thoughts on the case, according to USA Today. 

Other prospective jurors went to school with Arbery or played football with him. 

And yet other jurors seemed to know each other, with one juror recognizing her son among the crowd.  

Arbery was chased by the armed  McMichaels as he was jogging in February 2020

Arbery was chased by the armed  McMichaels as he was jogging in February 2020 

Arbery, in a white T-shirt, is confronted by Travis McMichael, who holds a shotgun

Arbery, in a white T-shirt, is confronted by Travis McMichael, who holds a shotgun

Many prospective jurors have also said they have already formed opinions about the case - including some deemed impartial enough to serve trial because they said they can keep an open mind.

One of the prospective jurors Walmsley allowed to advance told attorneys he is a former law enforcement officer who took part in a memorial event for Arbery last year in which people ran in his memory and posted videos to social media.

He told attorneys on Monday he did not think chasing Arbery was the best idea, the Associated Press reports, and suggested they should have

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