Suspects Charged In Ahmaud Arbery Killing Argue For Bond Release

ATLANTA – The men charged in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery appeared in court Thursday for a bond hearing to argue for their release from jail.

Arbery, 25, was jogging through his Satilla Shores neighborhood in Brunswick around 1 p.m. Feb. 23 when he was chased down and killed by two white men, his family said.

Three arrests in the case were made in May, including when William "Roddie" Bryan Jr., who was arrested and charged with felony murder. Bryan is the man believed to have captured the incident on video. Gregory McMichael and Travis McMichael were arrested on May 7 and have been in jail since that time.

The men are charged with nine counts: malice murder, four counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, false imprisonment and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment, the DA said.

Lawyers for Greg and Travis McMichael argue they should be out of jail while they await their upcoming trial. Bryan was previously denied bail but argued again for release Thursday.

Character witnesses were called to the stand Thursday, including Alison McMichael, Greg's wife. Alison McMichael testified her son, Travis, was living with her and her husband at the time of the incident.

During her testimony, she said Travis McMichael enlisted in the Coast Guard as a mechanic and worked with "all races and classes" and to her knowledge had no issues with others.

The hearing continued Thursday afternoon. No decision has yet to be made on bond for either of the McMichaels.