A pre-trial hearing in the Ahmaud Arbery murder case filed a dispute over the coronavirus face linings on Friday, with a defense attorney who objected to a George Floyd mask in court.
During a charge reading of suspect William “Roddie” Bryan, defense attorney Kevin Gough drew attention to a mask with the words “George Floyd” worn by court viewer S. Lee Merritt, an attorney for the Arbery family. . Gough said it shouldn’t be allowed.
Floyd, who like Arbery was a black man, died in Minneapolis police custody on May 25, sparking worldwide protests against police brutality and systemic racism. His death came a month after Arbery was confronted by three white men and shot dead in Brunswick, Georgia.
Gregory McMichael, 64, and Travis McMichael, 34, and Bryan, 50, have been charged in connection with that murder.
“If we are allowed to wear masks to make political statements, then Mr. Evans and I and his office should be free to wear ‘MAGA’ masks if we wanted in the courtroom,” said Gough, referring to Prosecutor Jesse Evans and the President Donald. The slogan of the Trump campaign.
“I imagine the court would not appreciate that,” added Gough. “And I think the same rules and any political statements should apply, whether it be in masks, lapels, stickers, T-shirts. Whatever people wear, this is not the place for political statements.”
Gough said that only “content neutral” masks should be allowed in court.
Chatham County Judge Timothy Walmsley said he had not noticed Merritt’s mask and canceled the defense request. But he left the door open to possibly broach the subject again.
“I’m not a gaming guy,” said Walmsley. “If something on the court becomes disturbing, it is the court’s position that that interruption will be addressed.” This is not a place to make a statement. “
Later on court day, Gough asked the judge to set bail for his client, insisting that it is not a flight risk and does not pose any danger to the community.
Prosecutor Evans argued that Bryan faces a long prison term if convicted, which could be an incentive to skip bail. Evans also revealed that prosecutors obtained text messages from Bryan’s phone that allegedly show that he regularly uses racist slurs.
“‘Working as an’ N ‘today,” “Evans quoted from an alleged text message from Bryan. “There is only a lot of filth in this defendant’s texts regarding that.”
And Wanda Cooper-Jones, Arbery’s mother, pleaded with the judge to keep Bryan locked up.
“You don’t think there is anything wrong with what you did. You want this court or allow you to go home,” he told the court. “I ask this court to say ‘No’. You cannot go home. You did not allow my son to go home.”
This is a developing story, please update to get updates
