CNN
A defense attorney in the trial over the killing of Black jogger Ahmaud Arbery apologized after he objected a day earlier to civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton attending the trial to support the victim’s family.
“I will let the court know that if my statements yesterday were overly broad, I will follow up with a more specific motion on Monday putting those concerns in the proper context. And my apologies to anyone who might have inadvertently been offended,” lawyer Kevin Gough said.
Gough created a furor Thursday when he decried what he saw as “a precedent … where we’re going to bring high-profile members of the African American community into the courtroom to sit with the family during the trial in the presence of the jury,” adding,”that’s intimidating and it’s an attempt to pressure.”
The judge told Gough he did not object to Sharpton taking the place of an Arbery family member as long as there were no disruptions.
In Georgia’s majority-White Glynn County, where the trial is taking place, race has played a central role in the case. The three defendants in the case are White, as are 11 of 12 jurors.
Gough said Thursday he had “nothing personally against” Sharpton, 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.”
In a statement Friday, Rev. Jesse Jackson, who has not yet attended the trial, said he will be “in court next week,” adding “Gough does not have a right to overrule family decisions as to who can and who can’t attend their son’s accuser’s trial.”
At Friday’s lunch break, Jason Sheffield, attorney for Travis McMichael, called Gough’s comment “totally asinine. Ridiculous,” and said, “In no way do we want to exclude anybody from this process.”
