Federal judge rejects plea deal for Ahmaud Arbery’s murderers

Deal would have averted a hate crimes trial for Gregory and Travis McMichael, who were already sentenced to life in prison

A federal judge has rejected a plea deal that would have averted a hate crimes trial for two of three white men convicted of murdering Ahmaud Arbery, the 25-year-old Black man who was chased and fatally shot in a Georgia neighborhood while jogging two years ago.

US district Judge Lisa Godbey Wood issued her decision on the proposed deal for Travis McMichael, 36, on Monday, after Arbery's family reacted furiously to agreements reached with McMichael and his father, Greg McMichael. Though the decision concerned the younger McMichael, his father was offered the same deal.