Ahmaud Arbery trial: Opening statements begin with nearly all-white jury Gough told Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley that he was concerned Sharpton’s presence in court Wednesday was an attempt to intimidate the disproportionately white jury hearing the case.
The jury was not in the courtroom when he made the remarks.“Obviously there’s only so many pastors they can have,” Gough said. “And if their pastor’s Al Sharpton right now that’s fine, but then that’s it.
We don’t want any more Black pastors coming in here … sitting with the victim’s family, trying to influence the jurors in this case.”Jason Sheffield, one of Travis McMichael’s lawyers, told the judge he didn’t notice any distractions caused by Sharpton, who sat in the back row.