Travis McMichael (top left), who was convicted of shooting and killing Ahmaud Arbery in state court, has withdrawn his earlier guilty plea regarding his upcoming a federal hate crimes trial.
In a hearing that lasted fewer than five minutes, the triggerman convicted of killing Ahmaud Arbery in state court withdrew his guilty plea in a federal hate crimes trial set to start Monday with jury selection. https://t.co/A4340EGzPE
— Savannah Now (@SavannahNow) February 4, 2022
From SavannahNow:
Travis’ father Gregory McMichael, 65, was expected to make the same plea, but in court filings late Thursday evening, the elder McMichael withdrew his plea agreement.
Earlier in the week, Travis McMichael, 35, pleaded guilty to a charge of interference with rights that would have given him a sentence of 30 years in federal prison to serve concurrently with his life-plus 20 years sentence in the state trial for Arbery’s murder.
I wrote about the proposed plea deals earlier this week. Apparently, the goal for the McMichaels was to get placed in a federal prison versus a state prison if they pleaded guilty. But Judge Lisa Godbey refused to agree to the deal.
Arbery’s family also spoke out against the plea deal.
The trials will now begin on Monday. Read the full article here.
BREAKING: The man convicted of murder for shooting Ahmaud Arbery is withdrawing his guilty plea on a federal hate crime charge. Travis McMichael elected to stand trial for a second time in Arbery’s 2020 killing. https://t.co/1Pj06yr4Cr
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 4, 2022