As the first verdict was being read, Marcus Arbery Sr., Arbery’s father, “leapt up and cheered,” according to a pool reporter in the room.
She thanked God and all the people who marched and prayed for her family.
“Quez, which you know him as Ahmaud, I know him as Quez. He will now rest in peace,” his mother said to the crowd of people gathered, who had celebrated upon hearing the news.
“The verdict today was a verdict based on the facts, based on the evidence and that was our goal, was to bring that to that jury so that they could do the right thing,” said prosecutor Linda Dunikoski, adding, “the jury system works in this country.”
Now, questions over the sentencing, appeals process and additional federal charges for Travis McMichael, Gregory McMichael and William “Roddie” Bryan Jr. must be answered.
Trio face possibility of life in prison
Judge Timothy Walmsley has yet to set a sentencing date for the three convicted men.
His father, Gregory McMichael, was acquitted only on a malice murder charge and was found guilty of the other charges faced by him and his son.
Bryan was found guilty of three counts of felony murder, one count of aggravated assault, one count of false imprisonment, and one count of criminal attempt to commit a felony. He was acquitted of malice murder, one count of felony murder, and one count of aggravated assault.
The men now face a sentence of up to life in prison without the possibility of parole on each of the murder charges, 20 years on each of the aggravated assault charges, 10 years on the false imprisonment charge, and 5 years on the criminal attempt to commit a felony charge. Walmsley will decide whether the sentences will be served consecutively or concurrently.
Prosecutors have indicated they will seek sentences of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Defense attorneys plan to appeal
When asked about the location of the trial, Sheffield said he was sure their decision not to file for a change of venue would be discussed “ad nauseam” and could become a part of a future appeal but said they did not have any second thoughts about the decision.
“I can tell you honestly, these men are sorry for what happened to Ahmaud Arbery,” said Sheffield. “They are sorry that he is dead, they are sorry for the tragedy that happened because of the choices that they made to go out there and try to stop him.”
Kevin Gough, Bryan’s attorney, said he planned to appeal the decision regarding his client, noting, “We believe the appellate courts will reverse this conviction.”
Gough said on November 11 he had “nothing personally against” the Rev. Al Sharpton, who was in attendance alongside Arbery’s family, adding, “We don’t want any more Black pastors coming in here or other Jesse Jackson, whoever was in here earlier this week, sitting with the victim’s family trying to influence a jury in this case.”
Dunikoski, the prosecutor, told CNN’s Jim Acosta after the verdict that Gough’s comments about Black pastors — though made without the jury present — were strategic.
“Mr. Gough is a very, very good attorney, and he purposefully and intentionally and strategically, I believe, did what he did in an effort to attempt to insert potentially some error into the case in case he lost the case and it went up on appeal,” she said.
Federal charges await
Federal prosecutors said all three men “used force and threats of force to intimidate and interfere with Arbery’s right to use a public street because of his race.”
The McMichaels and Bryan pleaded not guilty to the federal charges.
Sheffield and Rubin, on behalf of Travis McMichael, said after the federal indictment, “We are deeply disappointed that the Justice Department bought the false narrative that the media and state prosecutors have promulgated.”
Arbery Sr.’s attorney Ben Crump said at the time, “This is an important milestone in America’s uphill march toward racial justice, and we applaud the Justice Department for treating this heinous act for what it is — a purely evil, racially motivated hate crime.”
The federal trial is set to take place in February. Since they were being held on the state charges, there has been no federal bond hearing yet.
If convicted on the federal charges, they could face an additional penalty of up to life in prison.
CNN’s Chris Boyette, Amir Vera, Angela Barajas and Madeline Holcombe contributed to this report.