Jury selection for the trial of the three men charged with killing Ahmaud Arbery — Greg McMichael, Travis McMichael and William “Roddie” Bryan — began in Georgia on Monday (Oct. 18) in what prosecutors expect to be at least a two-week-long process. According to ABC News, hundreds of potential jurors reported to the Glynn County courthouse on Monday, though officials think it could take a while to find jurors who don’t already hold an opinion about the case.
Speaking with reporters on Monday, Arbery’s father Marcus Arbery Sr. said he’s hoping for an impartial jury and a fair trial.
“This is 2021 and it’s time for a change,” he said. “We need to be treated equally and get fair justice as human beings because we’ve been treated wrong so long.”
Potential jurors were reportedly mailed a three-page questionnaire asking what they already know about the case. The pool of prospective jurors will face more questions from both defense attorneys and prosecutors in the coming days before a jury of 12 people, plus four alternates, is selected.
After the jury is picked, the trial will be able to start, which Glynn County Superior Court Clerk Ronald Adams expects to take over two weeks.
As reported by REVOLT, almost 100 people attended a rally on Saturday (Oct. 16) organized by Arbery’s family. Supporters rode through the neighborhood where the 25-year-old jogger was followed and gunned down by father and son Greg and Travis and their neighbor Bryan.
The three men are charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, false imprisonment and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment.
Greg, Travis and Bryan also face federal charges, including one count of interference with rights, which is a hate crime, and attempted kidnapping. The McMichaels were also federally indicted for using a firearm during a crime of violence. A trial for the three men’s federal charges is set for Feb. 7, 2022.