BRUNSWICK, Ga. – Family and friends of Ahmaud Arbery expressed their disappointment Wednesday following a judge’s decision to end the trial of a former Georgia prosecutor who was accused of using her influence to protect the men who chased and killed the 25-year-old in February 2020.
Jackie Johnson was cleared Wednesday morning of felony charges related to violating her oath of office.
After five days of testimony, a judge announced that the prosecution failed to prove that Johnson had directed investigators to avoid arresting the man who shot Arbery. The charges stemmed from accusations that she helped her former employee, Gregory McMichael.
“The judge ruled correctly. This case should never have been brought. She did nothing wrong,” one of Johnson’s attorneys said. ”This case is rooted in a tragedy, but the prosecution against Mrs. Johnson should never have happened.”
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Arbery’s parents maintain their belief that Johnson tried to shield the men who killed their son.
“I’m hurt. I’m devastated. It’s wrong that our elected officials, with so much power, don’t face accountability for their actions,” Marcus, Arbery’s father, said.
Loved ones of Ahmaud Arbery expressed deep pain over the ruling, recalling the grief they felt after his death.
“I’m devastated. The way Ahmaud lost his life... We fought so hard for justice,” a family friend said.
Johnson’s attorneys argued that the 2021 indictment was flawed by technical errors and failed to establish any criminal conduct. Johnson had been accused of showing favoritism to McMichael, one of her former investigators.
“Today’s ruling by the judge does not mean that she’s innocent, it was technical, it’s an acquittal, all based on a technicality,” President and Founder of the Transformative Justice Coalition Barbara R. Arwine said.
In February 2020, McMichael, his son Travis, and neighbor William “Roddy” Bryan chased and fatally shot Ahmaud Arbery while he was jogging. They weren’t charged with a crime until a video was leaked to media, revealing the young man was brutally murdered.
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News4JAX spoke with one of Johnson’s lifelong friends, who didn’t want to be identified and insisted on Johnson’s innocence.
“I’m excited. I prayed for this. I’ve known Jackie my whole life. She’s always respected the law and has always believed that no one is above or below it,” the friend said.
Brunswick resident Cathy Crews said she trusts the legal system.
″I think we have to just let justice take its course, that’s what we have a jury for,” Crews said.
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Johnson was voted out of office in November 2020 and largely blamed her defeat on controversy over Arbery’s killing.
The ex-prosecutor left the courthouse without speaking to reporters Wednesday and has not announced if she will run for office again.