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In a critical trial in Brunswick, Georgia, the jury has begun to hear testimony regarding the actions of former District Attorney Jackie Johnson in the aftermath of Ahmaud Arbery's fatal shooting in February 2020. The trial focuses on allegations that Johnson interfered with the police investigation of Arbery's killing.
During testimony on Wednesday, police investigator Roderic Nohilly recounted his initial interactions with Travis McMichael, the shooter, stating that McMichael was told he was not being arrested shortly after the incident. "You're going home today," Nohilly said, highlighting the lack of immediate action following the shooting, which occurred during a chase initiated by McMichael, his father, and a neighbor who claimed to suspect Arbery of theft.
No arrests were made until graphic video footage of the shooting surfaced online, prompting the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) to take over the case. Johnson, who was the top prosecutor in Glynn County at the time, is accused of recommending that a neighboring district attorney, George E. Barnhill, oversee the investigation without disclosing Barnhill's previous conclusions that the shooting was justified.
Johnson's defense argues that she did not recommend Barnhill's involvement and that police made the decision not to arrest the McMichaels without any prosecutor's influence. Nohilly testified that during his interview with Travis McMichael, he did not believe an arrest was imminent, noting that investigators were still gathering evidence.
The trial continues as testimony from various witnesses sheds light on the actions and decisions made in the early days following Arbery's death, emphasizing the complexities surrounding the case that sparked nationwide protests against racial injustice.