Judge rules William ‘Roddie’ Bryan can seek parole after 30 years while Travis and Gregory McMichael cannot

A judge in Georgia sentenced Travis McMichael, Gregory McMichael and William “Roddie” Bryan to life in prison on Friday for the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man who was running through their mostly white neighborhood in February 2020 when they chased him down and killed him.

Under Georgia law, murder carries a mandatory life sentence unless prosecutors seek the death penalty. For the judge, Timothy Walmsley, the main decision was whether to grant father and son Greg McMichael, 66, and Travis McMichael, 35, and their neighbor, Bryan, 52, a chance to earn parole.

A defense attorney in the trial over the killing of Ahmaud Arbery has caused outrage after asking the court to limit the number of Black pastors in the public gallery, claiming their presence could influence the jury. Kevin Gough said the presence of high-profile figures such as Rev Al Sharpton and Rev Jesse Jackson could be 'intimidating' for members of the almost entirely white jury. 'We don't want any more Black pastors in here,' Gough said

• Ahmaud Arbery killing: outrage as defence team tries to limit Black pastors in courtroom

Lawyers played video showing Travis McMichael opening fire three times on Arbery, who was unarmed, as trial gets underway

Prosecutors on Friday said the three white men accused of murdering Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia last year placed the 25-year-old Black man under a sustained “attack” and made a series of “assumptions and driveway decisions” that led to shooting him dead.

During highly charged opening statements in the closely watched trial, now infamous cellphone video of the shooting was played to the court. Arbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, broke down in tears.