Travis McMichael, who fatally shot Ahmaud Arbery, took the stand as the first defense witness to tell his “side of the story” in the fatal Georgia shooting, crying at one point.
RELATED: Defendant Travis McMichael takes the stand in trial over death of Ahmaud Arbery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWbOZiQ1e0c

One of the three men charged with murder in the death of Ahmaud Arbery began crying on the stand Wednesday as he described the final moments of his fatal confrontation with Arbery.

Travis McMichael, who was seen on video shooting and killing Arbery in the Satilla Shores neighborhood of Brunswick on Feb. 23, 2020, was the first witness for the defense. After about three hours of testimony, McMichael broke down as he described what he later called “the most traumatic experience of my life.”

“It was obvious that he was attacking me, that if he had gotten the shotgun from me, it was a life-or-death situation,” McMichael said.

McMichael told jurors he wanted to testify to share “his side of the story.” Prompted by his attorney, McMichael explained what led him to believe Arbery was “dangerous” and how he attempted to stop him that day. The prosecution, meanwhile, opened its cross-examination by emphasizing that McMichael made assumptions based on incomplete information.

» Subscribe to USA TODAY: http://bit.ly/1xa3XAh
» Watch more on this and other topics from USA TODAY: https://bit.ly/3kKEWhm
» USA TODAY delivers current local and national news, sports, entertainment, finance, technology, and more through award-winning journalism, photos, videos and VR.

#ArberyTrial #CourtLiveStream #AhmaudArbery