'We don't want any more Black pastors' in Arbery murder trial, lawyer
says
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[November 12, 2021]
(Reuters) - A lawyer for one of the
three white men charged with killing Ahmaud Arbery said his team did not
want "any more Black pastors coming" into the Georgia courtroom after a
civil rights leader attended proceedings.
Thursday's comment by Kevin Gough drew sharp criticism from the Rev. Al
Sharpton, whom the defense attorney cited in asking the judge in the
high-profile case to exclude African-American clergy.
Arbery, a 25-year old Black man, was chased by the three men and shot
dead in a mostly white neighborhood in the coastal city of Brunswick in
February 2020. The three have pleaded not guilty to murder, aggravated
assault and false imprisonment in the trial.
"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 a jury in this case," said
attorney Kevin Gough, who represents defendant William "Roddie" Bryan.
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Sharpton had attended the trial on Wednesday and conducted a prayer
vigil with Arbery's parents outside the courthouse, he said on his
official Twitter account.
The trial comes as the killings of Black Americans by police in recent
years have sparked a renewed push for civil rights in the United States,
with the murder of George Floyd captured on video last year sparking
worldwide protests.
"The arrogant insensitivity of attorney Kevin Gough in asking a judge to
bar me or any minister of the family's choice underscores the disregard
for the value of the human life lost and the grieving of a family in
need (of) spiritual and community support," Sharpton said.
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![](../images/111221PIX/news_a1.jpg)
Defense attorney Kevin Gough reacts as he speaks at the jury
selection in the trial of William "Roddie" Bryan, Travis McMichael
and Gregory McMichael, charged with the February 2020 death of
25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery, at the Gwynn County Superior Court, in
Brunswick, Georgia, U.S. October 27, 2021. REUTERS/Octavio
Jones/Pool/Files
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He said his attendance was "not disruptive in any
way" and was "at the invitation of the family."
Gough, who said he did not learn about Sharpton's presence until
after that day's court session, told Judge Timothy Walmsley, "We
want to keep politics out of this case." He suggested the presence
of figures like Sharpton "could be consciously or unconsciously an
attempt to pressure or influence the jury."
The judge told Gough he was "not going to blanketly exclude members
of the public from this courtroom."
Bryan, 52, as well as neighbor Gregory McMichael, 65, and his son
Travis McMichael, 35, face life in prison if convicted of murder.
The jury was shown videos on Thursday of Arbery walking around a
vacant property on earlier visits to the Georgia neighborhood where
he was shot. Prosecutors say Arbery was an avid runner out for a
Sunday afternoon jog.
(Reporting by Mana Rabiee; Writing by Ana Nicolaci da Costa; Editing
by William Mallard)
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