“Prosecutors shared with” Arbery’s mother that defendant William “Roddie” Bryan Jr.’s lawyer “asked for a plea deal before resting their case,” and “prosecutors declined any plea offer,” Lee Merritt, an attorney the mother, said Friday.
Reporters outside the southeastern Georgia court where the trial is being conducted asked Kevin Gough, Bryan’s attorney, on Friday whether he asked prosecutors for a plea deal.
“I don’t know what y’all are talking about,” Gough responded as he walked toward a courthouse entrance.
Arbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, confirmed to reporters outside the same courthouse Friday that she heard from the district attorney about the request for a deal.
Defense lawyer’s motion for mistrial rejected
On Friday, Gough again filed for a mistrial, this time saying it was because of concerns over a “demonstration” that occurred outside the Brunswick courthouse Thursday.
“This is an event that is literally, literally at the courthouse door with more people than I could count outside,” Gough said.
The defense attorney was referring to a “Prayer Wall” event Thursday afternoon, that was attended by a large group of pastors, clergy and other supporters of the Arbery family from across the country.
State prosecutors accused him of orchestrating the demonstration with his complaints about the presence of nationally known African-American clergymen in the courtroom.
“They’re responding to what he strategically, knowingly, intelligently did so that there would be a response so that he could then…
Source : cnn
