Suspect in Ahmaud Arbery case called his former boss at time of killing for advice: prosecutor

A prosecutor in the Ahmaud Arbery case presented in court on Friday a voice message that one of the two white suspects left for his former boss at the time of his killing, according to CNN. 

The evidence came during a two-day bond hearing on Friday that ended in Gregory McMichael and his son Travis McMichael being denied bail. 

Prosecutor Jesse Evans said on Friday that the message was left for Jackie Johnson, Gregory McMichael’s former boss at the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, claiming it was intended to influence and obstruct the case, according to the news outlet. 

“Jackie, this is Greg,” McMichael said, according to CNN. “Could you call me as soon as you possibly can? My (inaudible) and I been involved in a shooting and I need some advice right away. Could you please call me, as soon as you possibly can? Thanks. Bye.”

Evans reportedly did not argue that the phone call had its intended effect, according to the outlet. 

The prosecutor argued that the court should look at whether the voicemail showed that Gregory McMichael “wanted to influence and obstruct” the investigation.

Also on Friday, Evans presented a “coded letter” he said the elder McMichael addressed from jail to Zachary Langford, who was a friend of Travis McMichael, according to CNN. 

He argued that the letter showed that the father-son duo presented “significant risk of intimidating witnesses and obstructing justice,” and would not be willing to follow the rules of the court.

The suspects allegedly pursued Arbery as he was jogging through their neighborhood in Brunswick, Ga., on Feb. 23 with a shotgun, claiming they believed he was a burglar.  After they confronted him, a struggle ensued and the younger McMichael fatally shot Arbery. 

The McMichaels and William Bryan — the man who filmed Arbery’s death — were indicted on charges of felony and murder in June.