Georgia prosecutors have shown the full footage of the fatal shooting of a black jogger at the trial of three white men accused of his murder.
A woman makes her feelings known as the trial got underway in Brunswick, Georgia. Photo: 2021 Getty Images
The prosecutors argued 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery was attacked by men who pursued him because of racial bias.
As the footage was shown, Arbery's father reportedly briefly left the courtroom while his mother wept.
Defendants Gregory and Travis McMichael and William Bryan deny all charges and have said they acted in self-defence.
The defence has called for a mistrial, arguing prosecutors misled the jury in their opening statement.
Wanda Cooper-Jones, mother of Ahmaud Arbery, seen here at a vigil in Waynesboro, Georgia, last February, was in court when the video of her son's shooting was played. Photo: 2021 Getty Images
Arbery was shot and killed during the confrontation with the McMichaels on 23 February 2020. The case erupted into public view after footage of Arbery's final moments surfaced online months after the incident.
McMichael, 65, his son Travis, 35, and neighbour Bryan, 52, who filmed the incident, say they pursued Arbery in order to make a citizen's arrest - allowed at the time under Georgia law - because they suspected he had stolen from a nearby construction site.
The McMichaels have also said they acted in self defence, accusing Arbery of attacking Travis when they tried to stop him.
Prosecutors are seeking to prove that racial bias - not facts and evidence - influenced the actions taken by the three defendants.
Prosecutors argue racism key factor
In her lengthy opening statement, lead prosecutor Linda Dunikoski told the jury: "All three of these defendants did everything they did based on assumptions - not on facts, not on evidence."
Dunikoski showed an extended version of the mobile phone footage taken by Bryan, for the first time in court on Friday.
Lead prosecutor Linda Dunikoski makes a point during her opening address. Photo: 2021 Getty Images
Dunikoski argued the men had no knowledge of Arbery committing any crimes but "assumed the worst".
"Mr Arbery was under attack by strangers with the intent to kill him," she said. "The only thing Mr Arbery did was run away."
Addressing the theft suspicions, Dunikoski laid out a months-long timeline showing that Arbery never stole from or damaged the construction area. She also added that, because the site was unsecured, he was not trespassing either.
Prosecutors played video and audio evidence to support their argument that the property owner was already handling the matter with local police, but the McMichaels acted on hearsay as soon as they saw Arbery running.
"They didn't simply follow Mr Arbery. All three 'trapped him like a rat' with their two pickup trucks," said Dunikoski, using the elder McMichael's own words.
She added that Bryan tried to hit the jogger four times with his car, getting so close that Arbery's palm prints and T-shirt fibres were later visible on the vehicle.
"No-one said 'I'm making a citizen's arrest today'," she told the jury.
- BBC