The three white men convicted last month of murdering unarmed Black jogger Ahmaud Arbery outside Brunswick, Ga., nearly two years ago will find out early next month whether or not their mandatory life sentences will carry the possibility of parole after 30 years.
Judge Timothy Walmsley on Monday scheduled a hearing for Jan. 7 at 10 a.m. in the sentencing of Travis McMichael, 35, who blasted Arbery with a shotgun at close range; Gregory McMichael, 65; and William “Roddie” Bryan, 52.
The three men were each found guilty by a nearly all-white jury of murdering the 25-year-old Arbery on Feb. 23, 2020, as he was jogging in the Satilla Shores subdivision just west of Brunswick.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys will each have the opportunity to call witnesses and present evidence at the sentencing hearing, which will be held at the Glynn County Courthouse in Brunswick. Although the hearing for the three defendants will be held together, each man will be sentenced individually by Walmsley.
Travis McMichael was convicted of all nine charges against him, which included malice murder, four counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, one count of false imprisonment, and one count of criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment.
His father, Gregory McMichael, was convicted of all charges except malice murder. Bryan was convicted of three counts of felony murder, one count of aggravated assault, one count of false imprisonment, and one count of criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment.
The appeals process for the three men can begin only after sentencing has been issued.
The three also face a separate federal trial in February, where they will be tried on charges of hate crimes and attempting to kidnap Arbery.
