Former federal prosecutor Shanlon Wu live-tweeted the closing statements in the Ahmaud Arbery Monday, and among the things he noticed were some serious mistakes by both sides.
One major concern he has for prosecutors is that they pushed forward with a two-hour closing statement when the jury is tired. The jury ultimately asked for a break.
But, Wu hastened to add, what the defense counsel did in the final days of the trial was far worse.
The former federal prosecutor singled out lawyer Kevin Gough, who has been throwing everything he can at the wall to see what will stick.
One major point from the trial is that defendant William Bryan told police that he wished he'd hit Ahmaud Arbery with his truck. Gough suggested that if Bryan had done that, then Arbery might have been able to avoid being shot by allowing himself to be run over with the truck.
Maya Wiley, a former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, was also aghast by Gough's claim that Ahmaud Arbery would have been dead whether or not William Bryan shot him.
Wiley, now a law professor and legal analyst, explained the excuse from Gough isn't a real legal defense.
"You still helped by participating in a felony," she said in summarizing the flaws in his argument.
See the comments below:
Kevin Gough - Attorney for William "Roddie" Bryan making point Bryant not very good with words & "not a rocket scientist" in effort to counter Bryan telling police that he wished he had hit Ahmaud Arbery with his truck - suggesting that hitting Arbery might have avoided shooting.— Shanlon Wu (@Shanlon Wu) 1637612068
Not very effective for defense counsel Kevin Gough - William "Roddie" Bryan lawyer to ask jury & prosecutor for "no more cheap shots" - rather weak way to end his closing which otherwise was fairly organized & workman like. #AhmaudArberyTrial— Shanlon Wu (@Shanlon Wu) 1637617266
The defense lawyer (who objected to #JesseJackson & other Black pastors in courtroom) is now saying #AhmaudArbery would still be dead if #RodieBryan stayed in bed that day. That\u2019s just not a real defense if you still helped by participating in a felony.— Maya Wiley (@Maya Wiley) 1637616743
