The judge was silent for a minute, drawing attention to the horror the victim had to endure during the eviction, and noted that there was no remorse for the “terrifying” act.

The perpetrators were gunman Travis McMichael, his father and a neighbor. They said they thought Arbery was a thief, but there was no evidence. The victim’s father spoke of a murder. According to the verdict, only the next-door neighbor can apologize after 30 years in prison, which is not possible for the other two. The next of kin asked for a life sentence.

The convicted neighbor filmed the chase and shooting. When these pictures spread on the internet, all three were under suspicion. McMichael and his father were arrested shortly after the incident, but were released after their report was released. In May 2020, all three were still arrested.

Arbery’s death, 25, sparked protests in Brunswick. His name was frequently mentioned in protests after the death of George Floyd. Floyd, a black American, was killed by white police in May 2020 when he was arrested. U.S. President Joe Biden said the assassination of Arbery was “a painful reminder” that much more needs to be done in the fight against racial inequality in the United States.