Jury selection will begin Oct. 18 in the trial of three men on state murder charges. They have also been charged, separately, with a federal hate crime.

(L to R) Travis McMichael, Gregory McMichael, William "Roddie" Bryan

Caption

(L to R) Travis McMichael, Gregory McMichael, William "Roddie" Bryan

Credit: Glynn County Sheriff's Office

The trial of the men charged with killing Ahmaud Arbery near Brunswick last year will begin October 18.

Judge Timothy Walmsley issued a notice Friday that jury selection will begin that day in the trial of Gregory and Travis McMichael and William “Roddie” Bryan.

All three men face charges including murder and assault in the shooting.

Arbery was jogging through the men’s neighborhood February 2020. Investigators say the defendants, who are white, pursued the 25-year-old Black man in pickup trucks. 

Video recorded by Bryan shows the McMichaels confronting Arbery with guns, and Travis McMichael shooting him.

The defendants have said they suspected Arbery of break-ins in their neighborhood.

The U.S. Justice Department has also announced federal hate crimes and attempted kidnapping charges against all three defendants, as well as firearms charges against the McMichaels. 

The October trial is on the state charges. No date has yet been set for trial on the federal charges.