BRUNSWICK, Ga. — A tense dialogue broke out Thursday afternoon in the course of the murder trial of three white men charged in Ahmaud Arbery’s killing when a protection legal professional stated the presence of “high-profile members of the African American group” could stress or intimidate the jury.
Protection legal professional Kevin Gough, who represents William “Roddie” Bryan, took concern with the Rev. Al Sharpton’s presence within the courtroom the day earlier than.
“If we will begin a precedent, beginning yesterday, the place we will convey high-profile members of the African American group into the courtroom to sit down with the household in the course of the trial within the presence of the jury, I consider that is intimidating and it is an try and stress … or affect the jury,” Gough stated.
Sharpton and civil rights legal professional Ben Crump, who represents Arbery’s fathe, listened to testimony Wednesday after holding a press convention and prayer vigil outdoors outdoors, the place Sharpton called Arbery’s killing “a lynching in the 21st century.”
Sharpton, who stated he was invited to Brunswick by Arbery’s mother and father, additionally raised considerations in regards to the make-up of the jury failing to replicate the Black inhabitantsof Glynn County.
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Gough argued he was frightened about “political pursuits” coming into the courtroom.
“Clearly, there’s solely so many pastors they(the household) can have,” Gough stated, including, “We do not need any extra Black pastors coming in right here, or any Jesse Jackson or whoever was in right here earlier this week.”
Prosecutor Linda Dunikoski stated she was unaware of Sharpton’s presence and didn’t take concern with it. “It is a public courtroom,” Dunikoski added.
Gough, in response, appeared to reference the founding father of Kentucky Fried Rooster.
“If a bunch of parents got here in right here dressed like Colonel Sanders with white masks, sitting within the again, I imply that might be —” Gough started to say earlier than the decide reduce him off.
Gough stopped in need of making a proper movement to bar anybody from the courtroom, and Choose Timothy Walmsley indicated he wouldn’t grant one if he did.
“The truth that no one even seen that (Sharpton) was in right here signifies that all people compiled with this court docket’s rulings,” Walmsley stated, including, “I am not going to blanketly exclude members of the general public.”
Protection legal professional Jason Sheffield, who represents Travis McMichael, stated he was conscious of Sharpton’s presence however that he was “not a distraction.”
