ByJessica Savage|January 13, 2021 at 3:32 PM EST - Updated January 13 at 8:26 PM
GLYNN COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - An attorney for one of the men charged in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery again has asked for his client to be released from jail because of his βuncontrolled high blood pressure.β
The request is on behalf of William βRoddieβ Bryan. Attorney Kevin Gough requested the court grant a hearing and reconsider bond.
Bryan β previously denied bond β has spent the past six months in the Glynn County Jail on felony charges that accuse him of contributing to Arberyβs death.
His attorney in a recent court filing says Bryanβs health care could affect his ability to stand trial later. The argument is somewhat familiar, but the statement, βassuming he survives long enough to have a trialβ is one that WTOC asked attorney Kevin Gough about during a recent interview.
Reporter: βWhat did you mean by that?β
Kevin Gough: βLook, Roddie Bryan has uncontrolled hypertension and that is potentially fatal. It interferes with his ability to prepare for trial. It interferes with his ability to have a trial.β
Reporter: βHow have you been advocating for that care?
Kevin Gough: βThe sheriff of Glynn County takes his responsibilities very seriously as does his staff. Itβs not as if they havenβt been trying, they have taken him to a specialist and they are trying, but the bottom line is his high blood pressure has not been addressed. when donβt know when it will be addressed and every day itβs not itβs shortening his life.β
Bryan took cell phone video of the deadly encounter between Arbery and Travis and Gregory McMichael.
Arbery died after being shot by Travis on Feb. 23.
But it was the release of the video back in May that led to the arrest of Bryan and the McMichaels. Since then, all three have been held in the Glynn County Jail.
On July 21, Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley denied bond on the basis that Bryan poses a βsignificant threatβ to the community βby failing to call 911 on the date of the incident.β
Yet Gough continues to push for Bryanβs release until trial.
βRoddie Bryan is presumed innocent. And what does it mean to say that we have a presumption of innocence in this country when we refuse to give people who are non-violent and not a flight risk a bond simply because they are charged with a serious offense. Thatβs a problem.β
There is also a pending sex crimes investigation involving Bryan.
Whether the court reconsiders bond is the judgeβs discretion.
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