Man who took video of Ahmaud Arbery's death is a 'pawn in a larger game', attorney says

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Louise Thomas

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The man who took the video of the killing of Ahmaud Arbery is a “pawn in a larger game” and the subject of a campaign of misinformation, according to his attorney.

Appearing on CNN on Monday night, William Bryan and his attorney Kevin Gough stated that he was just a bystander to the incident, in an attempt to counter accusations that Mr Bryan is complicit in the crime, and involved in a wider conspiracy.

Mr Gough, who spoke on behalf of his client, says that conspiracy theories about his client’s relationship to the incident have made him the subject of a campaign of misinformation. He has received threats since the video gained the attention of national media.

Earlier, host Chris Cuomo asked why Mr Bryan was where he was that day, if it was not done in coordination with Greg and Travis McMichael, the father and son who have been charged with felony assault and the murder of Mr Arbery.

The attorney said his client was at home minding his own business, and countered several claims that have been made about Mr Bryan being armed, a vigilante, or in cahoots with local authorities. He later added that his client has no relationship with the McMichaels —refuting their account to the police that he was helping challenge Mr Arbery.

Mr Cuomo pressed Mr Gough as to why his client has not yet said why he was present, why he videoed what he saw, and what he understands happened that day: “Why do you not want him to say what can only clear his name?”

“In America we try our cases in courts of law ... where important cases are tried in newspapers and on television and on blogs and stuff, that is not serving the interests of justice,” said Mr Gough.

Mr Bryan did tell Mr Cuomo that he hopes the video helps bring about justice.

He also said: “I would like to say first of all I am very sorry to the family. I pray for them every night as well as my own family.”

In earlier interviews, Mr Bryan said that he was in “complete shock” when he witnessed the shooting. “I’ve never been involved in anything like that before,” Mr Bryan said. “Complete shock.”

He also said: “I’m trying to get my life back to normal, and it’s been smeared for the last week … I was told I was a witness and I’m not sure what I am, other than receiving a bunch of threats.

“I’d be lying if I didn’t say I wasn’t scared,” he added.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has said that Mr Bryan is a subject in the investigation. A police report said that he “attempted to block” the McMichaels when they began to follow Mr Arbery.

However, others still question why Mr Bryan was recording events leading up to the shooting — which Mr Gough maintains his client is unable to answer given the ongoing investigation.

An autopsy report released by the GBI late on Monday confirmed that Mr Arbery was shot three times, including twice in the chest, according to several media reports. That appears to match what transpires in the footage filmed by Mr Bryan.

Mr Arbery was jogging in his Satilla Shores, Georgia, neighbourhood on 23 February when he was fatally shot by the McMichaels. They were arrested on Thursday after Mr Bryan’s video went viral sparking national outrage.

The elder Mr McMichael has said that he believed Mr Arbery looked like a suspect in a series of recent break-ins, but Glynn County police Lieutenant Cheri Bashlor said that in the seven weeks prior to the shooting, there had only been one burglary: a gun stolen from an unlocked vehicle in front of the McMichaels' home.