Ahmaud Arbery’s mom pleads with judge to keep his killers behind bars until trial

On Thursday (Nov. 12), two men who are accused of killing 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery sat before a judge during their bond hearing. Gregory McMichael and his son, Travis, are asking to be let on out on bond until their trial takes place, but Wanda Cooper-Jones, Arbery’s mother, wants them to remain behind bars to prevent them from committing the same crime again.

Cooper-Jones testified that “given the opportunity, both men would do the same again.” She added, “These men are proud of what they’ve done and they want to go home because in their selfish minds, they’re the good guys.”

She also said that the men do not regret killing her son. “Nobody reached out to say, ‘I’m sorry for your loss,’” she said. “I don’t think they are remorseful at all.”

On Feb. 23, Arbery was fatally shot while jogging through a Georgia neighborhood. The McMichaels took their weapons and jumped into their truck to follow the Black jogger. Soon after, there was a struggle over the firearm and he was shot and killed. A third man, William Bryan, recorded the incident and authorities believe he used his pickup truck to try to trap Arbery. They also say he struck him with the vehicle to stop him from fleeing.

Last month, prosecutors filed to have racist texts and social media posts become admissible during the trial. During Thursday’s bond hearing, the prosecutors read some of those texts. Prosecutor Jesse Evans asked Zachary Langford, Travis’ childhood friend, about a text message in which Travis used a slur for black people when referring to a “crackhead … with gold teeth.”

Evans also brought up a Facebook photo Langford posted last year where Travis replied, “Sayonara,” along with an offensive term for Asians followed by a vulgar term.

The judge did not decide whether to grant bail to the McMichaels and their hearing will continue on Friday (Nov. 13).