Coverage of the hate crimes trial will begin Monday morning.
In a hearing that lasted fewer than five minutes, the triggerman convicted of killing Ahmaud Arbery in state court withdrew his guilty plea in a federal hate crimes trial set to start Monday with jury selection.
Travis’ father Gregory McMichael, 65, was expected to make the same plea, but in court filings late Thursday evening, the elder McMichael withdrew his plea agreement.
Earlier in the week, Travis McMichael, 35, pleaded guilty to a charge of interference with rights that would have given him a sentence of 30 years in federal prison to serve concurrently with his life-plus 20 years sentence in the state trial for Arbery’s murder.
Credit: Stephen B. Morton, AP
Credit: Stephen B. Morton, AP
But Judge Lisa Godbey Wood did not agree to the binding agreement, saying she did not have enough information to conclude it was a fair deal. Her decision was further reinforced by Arbery’s family detesting the deal.
The hate crime case will continue against the McMichaels and William "Roddie" Bryan, the neighbor who filmed Arbery's killing. All three men will go to trial Monday.
In January, the McMichaels were sentenced to life plus 20 years without the parole in the state murder trial. Bryan was sentenced to life plus five years with the possibility of parole.
Credit: Stephen B. Morton, AP
Credit: Stephen B. Morton, AP
Risk of a harsher sentence
Brunswick-based trial attorney Page Pate said it was unlikely the McMichaels would get what they wanted if they pleaded guilty in the federal case, but they now run the risk of a stiffer sentence by going to trial. “The only benefit would be accepting responsibility for what they did and hoping the judge gives them a lower sentencing. Basically, throwing themselves at the mercy of the court.”
Pate said he believes Bryan's case will be different because he didn’t pull the trigger and that the burden of proof to show he was motivated by hate is higher.
“I think he and his lawyer are saying, 'There’s no reason for us to plead guilty to 30 years, we have a chance to win the case at trial.’”
Raisa is a Watchdog and Investigative Reporter for The Savannah Morning News. Contact her at rhabersham@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Ahmaud Arbery's killer withdraws guilty plea in federal hate crimes hearing
