Suspects in Ahmed Arberry murder in Georgia courtroom

Three white Georgia men are being tried in court Thursday for the shooting death of unarmed black jogger Ahmed Arberry on Feb. 23.

Glynn County Chief Magistrate Judge Wallace Harrell will determine whether there is sufficient evidence to support the case against former policeman Gregory McMichael, 64, and his 34-year-old son Travis McMichael and local resident William “Roddy” Bryan, 50. Move Forward, The Coastal Courier Newspaper Announced.

McMichaels is charged with aggravated murder and aggravated assault, and Bryan, who shot the nationally-acclaimed viral video, is facing criminal charges of aggravated murder and wrongful imprisonment.

Arberry, 25, was jogging around the Chatela Shores neighborhood when McMichaels tried to block his path with his pickup truck – and Travis McMichael was killed when he got out of a truck and got into a fight with Arberry.

Brian, who first described himself as a good Samaritan, followed Aubrey in his vehicle and filmed his death.

But no charges were filed in the case for more than two months, while two local prosecutors defended themselves from the case – until Brian’s video was made public on May 5 and provoked national outrage. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, a state agency, took the case and charged McMichael on May 7.

Brian was arrested and charged May 21.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said last week that officials would be cautious to prevent any “disruption” in the racially charged case.

“We will have a strong state law enforcement presence in the region to support local government, including the Georgia State Patrol, Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Courthouse, JIMA officials and other related agencies.” Kemp said, according to CNN.

“If we try to penetrate the bad actors into the most peaceful gatherings in the community for more than a month now, we will take the right steps to hold them accountable.”

If convicted, all three will face the death penalty, with or without jail, parole. CBS-News reports.

All three suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges. They told police they believed they were a robbery suspect after Aubrey stopped at a local construction site.

Cobb County District Attorney Zayette Holmes will hear the case.

The shooting is under investigation by the FBI and the Justice Department.