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2021-11-12 03:40:45
By Ravi Kumar Image Source: Screen Shot
A defense attorney for one of three white men standing trial in the death of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia told the judge Thursday he doesn't want “any more Black pastors” in the courtroom after the Rev. Al Sharpton sat with the slain man's family.
Kevin Gough represents William “Roddie” Bryan Jr., who along with father and son Greg and Travis McMichael is charged with murder and other crimes in Arbery's Feb. 23, 2020, killing. The 25-year-old Black man was chased and fatally shot after the defendants spotted him running in their neighborhood outside the Georgia port city of Brunswick.
"If we're going to start a precedent, starting yesterday, where we're going to bring high-profile members of the African-American community into the courtroom to sit with the family during the trial in the presence of the jury, I believe that's intimidating and it's an attempt to pressure," Gough told the court following a lunch break. "Could be consciously or unconsciously an attempt to pressure or influence the jury."
Gough told Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley that he was concerned Sharpton's presence in court Wednesday was an attempt to intimidate the disproportionately white jury hearing the case. The jury was not in the courtroom when he made the remarks.
In Georgia's majority White Glynn County, where the trial is taking place, the race has played a central role in the case. Last week, following a long and contentious jury selection process, Judge Timothy Walmsley said the defense had appeared to be discriminatory in selecting the jurors but allowed the case to go forward -- with only one Black member in the panel.
"Obviously there’s only so many pastors they can have," Gough said. “And if their pastor’s Al Sharpton right now that's fine, but then that’s it. We don’t want any more Black pastors coming in here ... sitting with the victim’s family, trying to influence the jurors in this case.”
Jason Sheffield, one of Travis McMichael's lawyers, told the judge he didn't notice any distractions caused by Sharpton, who sat in the back row of the courtroom gallery wearing a mask.
Gough said he didn't realize Sharpton had been there until after the court had adjourned for the day.
“You weren’t even aware of it until later?" the judge said. "I’m not sure what we’re doing.” 'We want to keep politics out of this case' The judge told Gough on Thursday that he was aware Sharpton would be inside, apparently taking the place of an Arbery family member, and that he did not have an objection as long as there were no disruptions.
Along with his comments on Thursday, Gough said he had "nothing personally against" Sharpton but added, "We don't want any more Black pastors coming in here or other Jesse Jackson, whoever was in here earlier this week, sitting with the victim's family trying to influence a jury in this case."
"I think the court can understand my concern about bringing people in who really don't have any ties to this case other than political interests and we want to keep politics out of this case," Gough said.
The Rev. Al Sharpton joined Arbery's parents Wednesday and led a prayer vigil outside the Glynn County Courthouse, asking for a just verdict in the case and calling Arbery's killing "a lynching in the 21st century."
Sharpton said that while the country has seen some positive milestones for the Black community, such as electing former President Barack Obama and Vice President Kamala Harris, "you still can't jog through Brunswick without being shot down, like you are a suspect, only because of the color of your skin."
Sharpton said in a statement that Gough's remarks showed “arrogant insensitivity" which "underscores the disregard for the value of the human life lost and the grieving of a family in need spiritual and community support."
“I respect the defense attorney doing his job,” Sharpton said, "but this is beyond defending your client, it is insulting the family of the victim.”
In response to Gough's comments, Judge Walmsley said that he was not going "to blanketly exclude members of the public from this courtroom," as long as everyone remains respectful of the court's process and does not become a distraction inside the courtroom.
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