Defense attorneys say the McMichaels and Bryan were legally justified in chasing and trying to detain Arbery because they reasonably thought he was a burglar. Greg McMichael told police Travis McMichael, 35, fired in self-defense as Arbery attacked with his fists and tried to grab his son’s shotgun.
“He had an opportunity to flee further, you know,” Greg McMichael told Nohilly. “We had chased him around the neighborhood a bit, but he wasn’t winded at all. I mean this guy was, he was in good shape.”
“Defense attorneys say....”
What did you expect them to do? Insist their clients plead guilty?
The State Attorney did not agree with them. The Georgia GBI did not agree with them. The Judge did not agree with them. And last but not least the Jury did not agree with them.