For Tuesday, Nov. 9th:
Brian G. Buckmire
@BuckEsq
·
57m
Officer Brandenberry is on the stand testifying. He was tasked with interviewing #GregoryMcMichael he starts his direct by saying “he’s never testified in a jury trial, especially one that’s being televised” … as he is about to testify about his body worn camera defense objects.
The reason why parts of the video are not being played are because of “Bruton” issues. One of the reasons why the jury will not be able to play it in the deliberation room. “Bruton” is the law regarding antagonistic defenses, where one defendant blames another for a crime.
Jason Sheffield, “in abundance of caution” is making an objection about an initial statement made by #TravisMcMichael to the officer coming in, the statement is “the last thing I ever wanted to do …” the defense doesn’t want this to come in because it could “open the door”.
At this time the State isn’t looking to put the statement in UNLESS #TravisMcMichael testifies. All seems cleared up, the jury is coming back in now.
Gregory McMichael was 5’10, 230lbs the day he spoke to the officer #Greg had blood on his left hand. #Greg said #Arbery was still moving, ans while he didn’t know if he had a gun he moved his arm to check.
Greg said that while he was reupholstering his boat seats he sees #Arbery “hauling *advertiser censored* in a dead sprint” and that they have him on video breaking into the house 2-3 times. #Greg said he was in the back of the truck while chasing #Arbery.
Greg said he IDed #Arbery as someone who typically wears a white shirt & has shirt dreads. That when he sees this #Greg goes into the house to get his gun. The reason he gets the gun, doesn’t know if he is armed, last time he put his hand in his pocket “I don’t take any chances”.
Greg was “amped up” when speaking with the officer. That he knew the general area, but had to be told what street he was on. While doing the interview, #Greg was interrupted “quite regularly” by other others and curious bystanders. Officer had to direct him to talk to him.
Greg tells the officer about how #Arbery runs up and down the roads. That #Greg said “stop, stop I want to talk to you” and say “stop God damnit.” #Greg said there was two shoots. That he saw them. “If I could have got a shot myself i would have” #Greg says to cop.
Greg was not isolated from speaking with the officer. People were allowed to walk up and speak with #Greg, and interrupt the conversation. Man interrupts #Greg and says he was concerned it was a drunk guy who lives up the corner, #Greg responds “the one that shuffles”.
Greg says “this ain’t no shuffler, this guys an . He was hooked up when he came up the street” Male speak asks if he was “walking” #Greg says “I don’t know where he was coming from” and asks if #Greg was okay and hands #Greg water.
Greg when asked if #Travis is okay, says he’s okay. Male speaker asks if the gun had a gun #Greg “says no, I couldn’t tell if he had one, but he attacked my son” #Greg says, “he came at him, tried to get the damn gun away” this was all to strangers while officer stood there.
Greg said he didn’t have a cell phone on him. #Greg never said, to the cop, he thought #Arbery committed a crime that day. #Greg never used the word #trespass, #burglary, #arrest, #detain or that he saw #Arbery throw anything out of his pocket as he ran.
Greg never told the officer he was making a citizen’s arrest. Prosecutor seems to go through all of the possible defenses the Defense could raise.
Photos were taken of #TravisMcMichael and this officer observed them. The state enters into evidence three photos.
#FranklinHogue, defense for #GregMcMichael begins to cross examine Officer Brandenberry… “let’s get some further context with your testimony” about the beliefs #Greg had about #Arbery in his neighborhood.
Hogue gets witness to agree that #Greg described what happened three times, not just the one he read on the record with the prosecution. #Greg says “he’s the one breaking in all the houses out here.”
Later #Greg says “well he makes frequent trips to the neighbourhood 3-4 times a week and not one has caught him.” #Greg grabbed his arm to check to see if he had a weapon, because he believed the guy may have been armed. The reason he got his .357 gun b/c doesn’t take chances.
The part of the testimony as to what #Greg meant by “I don’t take chances” was SUSTAINED. At first the neighbourhood was confusing to the officer, but when he realized they make a loop he understood. There are only two roads into the neighbourhood.
officer is asked to read, to himself, a portion of the transcripts he is not allowed to say out loud, and is asked where #Greg statements were made. And that the statements were made at the end of the encounter and not in the middle of the chase, on Holmes Road near Satilla.
This officer only looked at his video and not THE video, showing the death of #AhmaudArbery. Didn’t listen to the 911 and this can only testify about his body worn camera. Last question a recording of what he said would be more reliable than when he told the officer SUSTAINED.
Laura Hogue suggests another question. If #Greg said anything materially different then he would have put it in his report. Then asked if he said something different it would be in his report. Officer said that he didn’t note any changes to #Greg’s story in his report.
Jason Sheffield gets up to cross examine on behalf of #TravisMcMicheal … focusing on statements during the pendency of the chase. That there was an interaction before Holmes and that there were statements at the end of the chase of “stop”.
Officer’s body worn camera is played at the beginning, showing officers taping up the scene & #TravisMcMichael sitting on the ground. Officer Robert’s says they have to take photos of him ans clean him up. #Travis says “do whatever you have to do.” #Travis is being “cooperative”.
Discussed w/ Officer Minshew that he was the first on the scene and how close Minshew was when he heard the shoot. Objection. OVERRULED. That Minshew was on the other side of bushes, heard the sound then turned the corner. Explained of how the defendants were involved w/ #Arbery.
Redirect. Prosecutor leads by saying this is the officer’s second day back from a head cold and he is told to write a report. That his report is less than 2 pages but his transcript is 47 pages.
link:
https://twitter.com/BuckEsq
