The evidence of racial bigotry not presented at the murder trial of Ahmaud Arbery's killers is expected to be front and center in the hate crimes case. At a hearing on January 7, Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley sentenced both McMichaels to life in prison with no chance of parole. The judge sentenced Bryan to life with a possibility for parole once he’s served 30 years.
Despite those penalties, Arbery’s family said the hate crimes case remains important. Lee Merritt, an attorney for Arbery’s mother, said it’s important for a federal case to expose the racist motives behind the killing because “there is an issue of race taking place in this country. It has come front and center and it needs to be discussed.” The trial will take place on February 7, 2022.
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