A Georgia judge on Friday sentenced both Travis McMichael, the man who fatally shot Ahmaud Arbery, and his father to life in prison without the possibility of parole, but issued a lesser sentence of life with the possibility of parole to the other white man convicted of murdering Arbery, a 25-year-old black man whom they had chased through their neighbourhood.

The three men — Travis McMichael, 35; his father, Gregory McMichael, 66; and their neighbour, William Bryan, 52 — were convicted of murder and other counts in state court in November, resulting in mandatory life sentences. The main question before Judge Timothy R. Walmsley on Friday was whether Arbery’s murderers should be eligible for parole after 30 years, the earliest opportunity for such offenders under Georgia law.

The lead prosecutor, Linda Dunikoski, asked the judge to deny the possibility of parole to the McMichaels, arguing that they had displayed a reckless history of “vigilantism” before the killing. She noted that the elder McMichael had referred to Arbery as an “asshole” as his body lay in the street and authorities responded. “There’s been no remorse and no empathy from either man,” she said.

Before issuing the sentences, Judge Walmsley noted that Arbery had been chased for roughly five minutes while he ran from the men on foot. To illustrate the sense of time, and to emphasise the terror he said Arbery must have felt, the judge paused and let silence fill the room for one minute.

New York Times News Service