Ahmaud Arbery killers sentenced for federal hate crimes Transcript

Courtney: (00:00)
The family of Ahmaud Arbery believes justice has been served, as the three men found guilty of federal hate crimes, went for sentencing. It is a case that caught the attention of the entire world. The three men, Travis McMichael, his father, Greg, and neighbor, William Roddie Bryan went separately before the federal judge in Brunswick. Fox 5’s Eric Perry is at the live desk with reaction from the Arbery family. Eric.

Eric Perry: (00:25)
Yeah, Courtney. Father and son, Greg and Travis McMichael were sentenced to life, while their neighbor William Roddie Bryan received 35 years from a federal judge. So the federal hate crime sentences are largely symbolic, as they already were found guilty and sentenced to life on state charges.

Wanda Cooper Jones: (00:44)
I’m very proud to say that we finally got justice for Ahmaud on the federal level.

Eric Perry: (00:50)
The family of Ahmaud Arbery emerged from the federal courthouse in Brunswick, Monday, feeling victorious.

Marcus Arbery: (00:55)
Man, it was real rough for me and my family that faced these three murderers. It was hard to look at them every day as a father.

Eric Perry: (01:03)
Travis McMichael, his father, Greg, and their neighbor, William Roddie Bryan, were found guilty in February on federal hate crimes in the shooting death of 25 year old Ahmaud Arbery. A US district court judge sentenced Travis and Greg to life in prison and the federal hate crimes. William Roddie Bryan was sentenced to 35 years.

Wanda Cooper Jones: (01:23)
I wanted them to know the pain that we, as the family, goes through every day.

Eric Perry: (01:29)
Arbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper Jones, says it’s been a difficult journey since her son’s death.

Wanda Cooper Jones: (01:34)
I prayed for this day to actually get a chance to talk to Travis directly. I wanted to, I was more anxious to see, was he going to address the parents of Ahmaud and also to the family of Ahmaud, and Travis chose not to even say that he was sorry.

Eric Perry: (01:51)
The three men were already found guilty and sentenced to life behind bars without parole for state charges. Last week, Travis and Greg McMichael asked the judge to send them to federal prison to serve their terms, as they claim they fear violent attacks in state prison. A judge rejected the plea. The family says their fight for justice doesn’t end here.

Wanda Cooper Jones: (02:12)
We have some district attorneys that we have to address. We have Jackie Johnson. We also have George Barnhill out of Waycross, who was the district attorney that was getting ready to close the case.

Eric Perry: (02:26)
And Jesse Jackson was also with the family inside the courtroom. He told members of the media that he was thankful for the sentences that were handed down and he believes a new day is emerging. At the live desk, I’m Eric Perry, Fox 5 News.

Speaker 5: (02:40)
All right, Eric. Thanks.