Opening arguments begin in the trial over Ahmaud Arbery’s racially charged killing

Enlarge this image

People gather in front of a mural of Ahmaud Arbery painted on the side of The Brunswick African American Cultural Center in Brunswick, Ga., on Thursday.

Octavio Jones/Reuters

hide caption

toggle caption

Octavio Jones/Reuters

National
What you need to know about the start of the trial in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery

The 12-person jury includes 11 white people and one Black person, despite Black potential jurors making up one fourth of the final pool. The panel also has four alternates. The trial is expected to last around two weeks, attorneys said during the selection process.

Who are the defendants in the case?

Enlarge this image

Travis McMichael, his father and a family friend are facing murder charges over the killing of Ahmaud Arbery in February of 2020. He’s seen here in a courthouse in Brunswick, Ga.

Octavio Jones/Pool/ Getty Images

hide caption

toggle caption

Octavio Jones/Pool/ Getty Images

Enlarge this image

Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley responds to arguments during a motion hearing in the trial of Greg McMichael and his son, Travis McMichael, and a neighbor, William «Roddie» Bryan in the Glynn County Courthouse on Thursday.

Stephen B. Morton/Pool/Getty Images

hide caption

toggle caption

Stephen B. Morton/Pool/Getty Images

Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley responds to arguments during a motion hearing in the trial of Greg McMichael and his son, Travis McMichael, and a neighbor, William «Roddie» Bryan in the Glynn County Courthouse on Thursday.

Stephen B. Morton/Pool/Getty Images

Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley is presiding over the trial at the Glynn County Courthouse. The Eastern Judicial Circuit judge was given the case after all five judges in the Brunswick Judicial Circuit recused themselves. Walmsley was appointed to the bench in February of 2012.

Lead prosecutor Linda Dunikoski is the senior assistant district attorney in Cobb County, outside of Atlanta. She was put in charge of the case in April, after two local prosecutors recused themselves.

Defense attorney Kevin Gough of Brunswick has represented Bryan since his arrest. Attorney Jessica Burton of Atlanta is also on Bryan’s defense team.

Defense attorneys Robert Rubin and Jason Sheffield represent Travis McMichael. They’re from the same Atlanta-area law firm.

Defense attorneys Laura and Franklin Hogue, who are married, represent Greg McMichael. They’re based in Macon, Ga., where they’ve handled numerous death-penalty cases in the past.