Arbery case: Defense attorney says he does not want any more 'Black pastors' in courtroom

An attorney for one of the White men standing trial in the death of Ahmaud Arbery told the judge Thursday he doesn't want “any more Black pastors” in the courtroom after the Rev. Al Sharpton sat with the slain man's family.

Gough told Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley that he was concerned Sharpton's presence in court Wednesday was an attempt to intimidate the disproportionately White jury hearing the case. The jury was not in the courtroom when he made the remarks. 

"Obviously there’s only so many pastors they can have," Gough said. "And if their pastor’s Al Sharpton right now that's fine, but then that’s it. We don’t want any more Black pastors coming in here ... sitting with the victim’s family, trying to influence the jurors in this case."