Ahmaud Arbery trial verdict live – Mom breaks silence about jogging son after Travis McMichael & William Bryan GUILTY
THREE men charged with the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery were convicted of his murder on Wednesday and Arbery's mom has since broken her silence about the verdict.
Arbery's mother cried as the verdict was announced for Gregory McMichael, 65; his son Travis McMichael, 35; and their friend William 'Roddie' Bryan, 52.
“This is the second Thanksgiving we’ve had without Ahmaud. But at the same time I’m thankful. This is the first Thanksgiving we are saying we got justice for Ahmaud,” Arbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, told on Thursday.
The judge was forced to temporarily halt the verdict announcement after the courtroom erupted in cheers when Gregory's first guilty charge was read.
Outside the court, protesters celebrated the decision by shouting Arbery's name.
The killing of Arbery on February 23, 2020, sparked outrage across the country when a video of the death went viral months later.
All three defendants had pleaded not guilty and now face life in prison.
Read our Ahmaud Arbery live blog below for the latest updates...
WHAT WAS AHMAUD'S FAMILY SAID ABOUT HIM?
Mr Arbery's dad : "He ran all the time."
"Everybody knows he ran all the time."
He added: "All he did was work out... he had dreams."
"All his dreams, gone."
WHO WAS AHMAUD ARBERY?
who was gunned down by two white men while jogging near Brunswick in Glynn County, Georgia.
He was 25 and a former high school football star who graduated in 2012.
He lived in coastal Glynn County with his mother.
Friends and family say he was an avid runner.
Rafael Baker Jr., with whom Mr Arbery played football, remembered him as "vocal, funny and a goofy guy".
WHAT HAPPENED TO AHMAUD ARBERY, PART TWO
Travis got out of his truck and confronted Arbery, later telling police he shot him in self-defense after Arbery refused his order to get on the ground, according to authorities.
It is believed the first shot was to Arbery's chest, the second was to his hand, and the third was to his chest again before he collapsed.
Arbery “was chased, hunted down and ultimately executed," according to special prosecutor Jesse Evans.
WHAT HAPPENED TO AHMAUD ARBERY?
The fatal shooting of Ahmaud Arbery took place on February 23, 2020, outside the Georgia port city of Brunswick.
Investigators allege that Travis McMichael, Gregory McMichael, and William Bryan used their trucks to chase down 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery, who repeatedly reversed directions and ran into a ditch while trying to escape.
WHO IS ON TRIAL IN THE AHMAUD ARBERY CASE?
Former police officer, Gregory McMichael, 65, his son Travis McMichael, 35, and William "Roddie" Bryan, 52, are charged with murder and other crimes in the case.
They have all pleaded not guilty.
They face life in prison if convicted.
ARBERY TRIAL TO BEGIN TODAY
Community leaders in Brunswick, Georgia, are preaching unity ahead of the trial of three white men accused of the racially motivated murder of Ahmaud Arbery.
Jury selection is scheduled to begin today for a trial expected to draw hundreds of protesters outside the court building.