The result hinged on whether there was a valid basis for a citizen's arrest, and it was a close call.
Maybe,maybe not.3 racist morons are now spending the rest of thier lives in prison because of thier racism.
I think that two trials now have demonstrated they did not have valid grounds for a citizen's arrest. It was not a close call at all.
Yes it was. It hinged on whether Arbery committed a felony (burglary) or merely a trespassing misdemeanor when he entered the vacant house. Where he had been caught on tape late in the evening a few weeks before. The citizen's arrest would have been valid if it was a felony. That's a close call.
Even the prosecutor (Linda Dunikoski) admitted during the trial that it would have been a good citizen's arrest if Arbery committed burglary. She read the definitions of trespassing and burglary to the jury and noted how close a call it was. In the end, it depended on whether Arbery had intent to take something from the premises. Pretty difficult for the McMichaels to know in exigent circumstances, no? Remember, I actually watched the trial.
Assuming somebody is committing a burglary is stupidity and racism not a close call.A non racist with average intelligence isnt going to risk kidnapping someone and all the risks and possible outcomes that come with it under those circumstances.
Arbery had a criminal record and was in a house without the owner's permission. He had been there before. Things were missing from a boat stored in the garage. No basis for reasonable suspicion?