ATLANTA - A federal judge rejected a plea deal that would have averted a hate crimes trial for Travis McMichael, who killed Ahmaud Arbery.Arbery’s parents asked the judge to reject agreements filed for McMichael and his father, Greg McMichael.U.S.
District Judge Lisa Godbey Wood said it would have locked her into specific terms — including 30 years in federal prison — at sentencing.
Wood said that in this case it would only be appropriate to consider the family’s wishes at sentencing, which the proposed deal wouldn’t allow.Travis McMichael and his lawyer asked for a 10-minute break to discuss whether he moves ahead with pleading guilty.
The judge had yet to rule on his father’s proposed deal.‘IT DOES BRING CLOSURE’: AHMAUD ARBERY'S FAMILY PROVIDES EMOTIONAL TESTIMONY AT SENTENCING HEARINGMarcus Arbery told reporters outside the federal courthouse in Brunswick that he’s "mad as hell" over the deal, which lawyer Lee Merritt said could enable Travis and Greg McMichael to spend the first 30 years of their life sentences in federal prison, rather than state prison where conditions are tougher."Ahmaud is a kid you cannot replace," Arbery said. "He was killed racially and we want 100% justice, not no half justice."Federal prosecutors thought it was important for them to get a confession, but Arbery's parents felt "betrayed." It appears the federal hate crimes trial will move forward.Cooper-Jones described the U.S.