Defense attorney at Ahmaud Arbery murder trial apologizes after his comments sparked outcry

(CNN)A defense attorney in the trial over the killing of Black jogger Ahmaud Arbery offered "my apologies to anyone who might have inadvertently been offended" after he objected a day earlier to civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton attending the proceedings to support the victim's family.

"I will let the court know that if my statements yesterday were overly broad, I will follow up with a more specific motion on Monday putting those concerns in the proper context. And my apologies to anyone who might have inadvertently been offended," lawyer Kevin Gough said.

Gough created a furor Thursday when he decried what he saw as "a precedent ... where we're going to bring high-profile members of the African American community into the courtroom to sit with the family during the trial in the presence of the jury."

"I believe that's intimidating and it's an attempt to pressure." he said.

The three defendants in the case are White, as are 11 of 12 jurors.

The judge told Gough he did not object to Sharpton taking the place of an Arbery family member as long as there were no disruptions.

Gough said Thursday he had "nothing personally against" Sharpton, adding, "We don't want any more Black pastors coming in here or other Jesse Jackson, whoever was in here earlier this week, sitting with the victim's family trying to influence a jury in this case."

Testifying Friday morning was a police officer who was in touch with the man who owned a home under construction that has been a focus of the case.

Travis McMichael, Gregory McMichael and William "Roddie" Bryan Jr. are accused of chasing Arbery, 25, in vehicles and killing him on February 23, 2020, in Brunswick, Georgia. Defense lawyers have argued they were attempting to make a citizen's arrest and Travis McMichael shot Arbery in self-defense as both wrestled over a shotgun.

The defendants are charged with malice and felony murder in connection with the killing. They also face charges of aggravated assault, false imprisonment and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment. All have pleaded not guilty. If convicted, each man could face life in prison without the possibility of parole.

At Friday's lunch break, Jason Sheffield, attorney for Travis McMichael, called Gough's comment "totally asinine. Ridiculous."

He added, "In no way, do we want to exclude anybody from this process."

Robert Rash, the Glynn County police officer who interacted with homeowner Larry English Jr., was the state's 13th witness.

The other witness Friday is expected to be a special agent with the Georgia Bureau of Investigations.

Rash testified about his interactions with Larry English, the owner of the home under construction, and his response to calls of trespassing at the property.

Multiple calls about trespassing

Rash said he responded to at least three calls from English about trespassers on his property, although he was never able to locate the individuals the homeowner saw on his surveillance cameras. Rash said he talked to 10 to 20 people in the neighborhood as he attempted to find out who was entering English's home and said he had no knowledge of Ahmaud Arbery stealing anything from the site.

According to Rash, in late October English sent him video of the individual entering his property. English told the officer he wanted the person found and wanted to know why he continued to come onto his property, the officer testified.

Rash talked to Gregory McMichael while responding to a call about another trespassing incident reported at the English home, just a few days before Christmas in 2020. The officer was aware of Gregory McMichael's law enforcement experience and said he thought McMichael could be helpful as a "witness," helping identify the person going into the home. McMichael asked the officer to pass on his contact information to English.

On February 11, 2020, Rash responded to a burglary in progress call in the neighborhood, called in by Travis McMichael. Body camera video presented to the jury showed both Travis McMichael and Gregory McMichael were present at the construction site while officers searched the area. Rash testified the call ended up being classified as a trespassing call.

At the beginning of the video, officers can be seen going into the dark home with their flashlights yelling "Glynn County Police" with their weapons drawn. The deputies had their guns out because dispatch had alerted them the person in the house may be armed, Rash said during cross-examination.

Later in the video, Gregory McMichael is heard telling Rash "Travis just walked down there; he's going in from our back yard to check back this way. (OK) He's armed by the way."

Frank Hogue, Gregory McMichael's defense attorney, showed the jury a text between Rash and Gregory McMichael where Rash told the elder McMichael to "please call him day or night when you get action on your cameras."

Later, the state asked the officer, "Was it your intent to deputize them when you sent the message?" Rash responded "never," adding the message was directed toward Gregory McMichael, not Travis McMichael.