Defense Uses Civil-War Era Citizen's Arrest Law In Opening Statements In Trial Over Arbery Killing

Opening statements began in the murder trial of three white men charged in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery.

A disproportionately white jury is hearing the case.

Prosecutor Linda Dunikoski says the 25-year-old Black man was killed based on the defendants' assumptions, not evidence.

However, the defense said the defendants believed a burglary was taking place, and they wanted to stop a crime in progress.

The defense attorneys' strategy is using Georgia's Civil War-Era law of citizen's arrest to justify Arbery's killing.

Father and son Greg and Travis McMichael armed themselves and pursued Arbery after spotting him running in their neighborhood. Their neighbor, William "Roddie" Bryan, joined the chase and recorded the cellphone video of Travis McMichael shooting Arbery at close range.

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