5 hours ago, John Anthony said:

We just need everyone to accept the fact progress is being made.  

Baby steps are still steps.  But we need to get it up to high speed train levels.

Sentencing is underway.

State is asking for sentence of life without the possibility of parole.

Arbery's mother and sister also had strong statements that pointed hard to the continued degree of racial bigotry and hatred displayed by the convicted defendents while they spoke and requested the judge to hand down the maximum sentence:

Wanda Cooper-Jones (Arbery's mother): "They each have no remorse and do not deserve any leniency. This wasn't a case of mistaken identity or mistaken fact. They chose to target my son because they didn't want him in their community. ... Your honor, I'm standing here before you as the mother of Ahmaud Arbery asking you to please give all three defendants who are responsible for the death of my son the maximum punishment in this court, which I do believe is life behind bars without the possible chance for parole."

Jasmine Arbery (Arbery's sister): "Ahmaud had dark skin that glistened in the sunlight like gold. He had thick coiley hair he would often like to twist. Ahmaud had a broad nose. These were the qualities that made these men assume he was a dangerous criminal and chased him with guns drawn. To me, those qualities reflect a young man full of life and energy who looked like me and the people I loved."

Gregory McMichael's defense attorney is asking for leniency on the basis of his age and 'poor health' and based upon the fact that he was in the Navy and served as a police officer, was never convicted of a felony prior to this, and that he personally bragged on how proud he was about never having discharged his firearm after retiring as a police officer.

William “Roddie” Bryan Jr's attorney had some discussion about whether or not the court supplied him (the attorney) with proper notice of intent to sentence, and then went on to say something about how Bryan had told a police officer on the scene of the murder that 'maybe Arbery wouldn't have died if he had just been hit by the truck being driven by the McMichaels' and then asked for leniency on the basis of age, as well as the fact that Bryan is being tried for murder while he was not driving the vehicle, nor did he have a weapon.

Anything less than life without parole is unacceptable. 

Judge Timothy R. Walmsley: "He left his home to go for a run, and ended up running for his life."

The judge pointed out that Ahmaud Arbery ran for his life for almost 5 minutes from the McMichael's and Bryan in their pickup truck. He then demanded that the entire court sit in silence for one full minute to have an understanding of exactly how long just 1/5 of that amount of time that is.

Assuming from the way Judge Walmsley is talking right now...I'm going to be surprised if he doesn't give the maximum sentence. He is extremely stern.

Travis McMichael: Life without the possibility of parole plus 20 years.

Greg McMichael: Life without the possibility of parole plus 20 years.

William “Roddie” Bryan: Life with the possibility of parole.

On 5/6/2020 at 11:14 AM, John Anthony said:

It’s hard to ask anyone to be patient, but give it time, justice will be served.

I am glad you were right. Justice has been served in this case. 

Out of curiosity, why do they do the "plus 20 years" on a life without parole sentence?

49 minutes ago, MJAlltheWay24 said:

Out of curiosity, why do they do the "plus 20 years" on a life without parole sentence?

I was wondering the same.

Regardless, I'll take the life sentences.

19 hours ago, MJAlltheWay24 said:

Out of curiosity, why do they do the "plus 20 years" on a life without parole sentence?

It’s extremely confusing, in some states and jurisdictions life doesn’t always mean life, or life could = 25 years served.  When they put the +20 years, they are making it virtually impossible to ever get out.  It’s essentially a hedge on the sentence to send a message to anyone trying to overturn it a few decades from now.

Here is a headline from policetribune.com, sentencing is coming soon:

"Ahmaud Arbery’s Killers Found Guilty Of All Federal Hate Crime Charges"

15 minutes ago, theguru said:

Here is a headline from policetribune.com, sentencing is coming soon:

"Ahmaud Arbery’s Killers Found Guilty Of All Federal Hate Crime Charges"

This will all but ensure they spend their lives in prison, guarding against an overturn at the state level. I'm not saying it was an easy case, because federal hate crimes are rarely prosecuted, but a lot of damning evidence on social media, text messages, etc. that of course showed these bozos were racists.

As an aside, people were again complaining this trial was not publicly telecast and going into conspiracy theory world, like in the Maxwell case. To repeat, federal trials are not shown on television.