Ahmaud Arbery's killers were just sentenced to life in prison

[View in browser]( [Mother Jones Daily Newsletter]( January 7, 2022 Good afternoon. All three of Ahmaud Arbery's killers were [just sentenced to life]( in prison. Gregory McMichael and his son, Travis, were sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. The third defendant, William Bryan Jr., will be eligible for parole after 30 years. “We are all accountable for our own actions,” Georgia Judge Timothy Walmsley said during sentencing. “In assuming the worst in others, we show our worst character.” We're likely to see new developments in this sprawling legal case in the months ahead. Defense attorneys have indicated they will appeal the murder convictions, and in February, Bryan and the McMichaels will also face federal hate crimes charges that will foreground questions of race that were [generally left unaddressed]( in the state murder trial. In addition, Jackie Johnson, the prosecutor originally assigned to the state case, faces criminal charges on allegations that she showed “favor and affection” to Gregory McMichael, who had previously worked in the Brunswick district attorney’s office. Justice may have been served in this particular case, but it's still small consolation for Arbery's parents—Wanda Cooper-Jones and Marcus Arbery—who spoke in the courtroom today. “When I close my eyes, I see [my son's] execution in my mind over and over," Marcus Arbery told the judge before the sentencing. "I’ll see that for the rest of my life.” —Noah Y. Kim Advertisement [Icarus Films]( [Top Story] [Top Story]( [Ahmaud Arbery’s Murderers Were Just Sentenced to Life in Prison]( Two of the men received life without the possibility of parole. The third will be eligible for parole. BY NOAH Y. KIM [Trending] [One year since the deadly January 6 attack, by the numbers]( BY SAM VAN PYKEREN [Mike Pence. Stephen Miller. The Supreme Court. Vaccine mandates. What could possibly go wrong?]( BY ISABELA DIAS [Amid Omicron surge, we know startlingly little about who's getting boosted]( BY ABIGAIL WEINBERG [Virginia's Youngkin taps former coal lobbyist for top environmental job]( BY CHRIS D’ANGELO Advertisement [Icarus Films]( [Special Feature] [Special Feature]( [The Lesson of January 6: Tragedy Does Not Yield National Unity]( Trump and his cult have turned 1/6 into ammo for their war on democracy. BY DAVID CORN [Get More From David Corn] Support from readers allows Mother Jones to do journalism that doesn't just follow the pack. [Donate]( Did you enjoy this newsletter? Help us out by [forwarding]( it to a friend or sharing it on [Facebook]( and [Twitter](. [Mother Jones]( [Donate]( [Subscribe]( This message was sent to {EMAIL}. To change the messages you receive from us, you can [edit your email preferences]( or [unsubscribe from all mailings.]( For advertising opportunities see our online [media kit.]( Were you forwarded this email? [Sign up for Mother Jones' newsletters today.]( [www.MotherJones.com]( PO Box 8539, Big Sandy, TX 75755