Father and son charged with Ahmaud Arbery's killing seek bond at heated hearing where prosecutors suggest the younger suspect 'texted about murdering a black man' in racist messages months earlier

A father and son jailed on murder charges in the February shooting of Ahmaud Arbery have appeared in a hearing seeking bond, at which prosecutors introduced disturbing text messages from months before the killing.

Gregory McMichael and his adult son, Travis McMichael, appeared on Thursday morning before Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley in a lengthy hearing that was still ongoing at 3pm. 

They also have asked the judge to toss out two of the counts against them, including malice murder, saying they were charged in a legally flawed indictment.

The McMichaels have been jailed since their arrests in May, more than two months after Arbery was slain. The McMichaels, who are white, chased and fatally shot the 25-year-old black man after they spotted him running in their neighborhood just outside the port city of Brunswick.

At the hearing, the defendants brought forth character witnesses to testify that the father and son don't harbor racist sentiment and would not flee on bail, while prosecutors introduced explosive text messages and social media posts to demonstrate a history of racism.

Gregory McMichael and his adult son, Travis McMichael, appeared on Thursday morning before Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley in a lengthy bond hearing

The father and son are charged with murdering Ahmaud Arbery (left and right) in February

At one point, Travis McMichael's friend Zachary Langford took the stand and was questioned by prosecutor Jesse Evans about an incendiary text message exchange from November 2019.

Travis McMichael texted Langford about 'shooting a crackhead c**n with gold teeth and a Hi-Point .45,' according to the state. 

Langford at first said he didn't recall receiving the message. Then after reviewing a transcript of the exchange, he answered: 'He was referring to a raccoon, I believe.'  

'A raccoon with gold teeth and a Hi-Point .45?' the prosecutor asked, referring to the model of pistol. 'He was being facetious,' Langford replied.

Evans also cited a photo Langford posted to Facebook last year to which Travis McMichael replied: 'Sayonara, ch**k f***s,' using an offensive slur for Asians.

Defense attorneys for both McMichaels have denied any racist motives in the shooting. 

Right after the February 23 shooting, Gregory McMichael told police that he and his son armed themselves and got in a pickup truck to pursue Arbery because they suspected he was a burglar.

Travis McMichael's friend Zachary Langford testified that McMichael's November 2019 text message about 'shooting a crackhead c**n with gold teeth' was in reference to a raccoon

The McMichaels have been jailed since their arrests in May. Above, they are seen conferring during the hearing, where they appeared via video link from the jail

Langford's wife, Ashley Langford, testified that Travis McMichael expressed remorse about shooting Arbery.

'He told me he wished it never happened like that,' she said. 'He prayed for Ahmaud's mother and his family daily.'

Arbery's mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, said outside the Glynn County courthouse that the McMichaels should remain jailed pending trial because 'those guys are dangerous.' She also said she doubted they had regrets.

'I live right there in the community,' Cooper-Jones said. 'Nobody reached out to say, "I'm sorry for your loss." I don't think they are remorseful at all.' 

Other friends of the McMichaels also testified, saying they were willing to put up their homes as collateral for bail if the father and son were released before the trial.

Allison McMichael, wife of Gregory and mother of Travis, also took the stand, appealing for their release and saying that Travis McMichael would never flee and abandon his three-year-old son.

'He loves home, he loves his son, he will stand up to his responsibility and he wants his day in court,' she said on the stand.

Allison McMichael, wife of Gregory and mother of Travis, also took the stand, appealing for their release on bond pending trial

Wanda Cooper-Jones (center in July), mother of Ahmaud Arbery, said outside the Glynn County courthouse on Thursday that the McMichaels should remain jailed pending trial

Arbery's killing stirred a national outcry in a year marked by protests over racial injustice. 

An investigator testified previously that a third defendant, who took cellphone video of the shooting, heard Travis McMichael, 34, utter a racial slur after he blasted Arbery three times with a shotgun.

The McMichaels' attorneys say that never happened, and that the third defendant was lying because he wanted to protect himself from prosecution. 

They weren't arrested until the cellphone video of the shooting leaked online and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation took over the case. Prosecutors say Arbery was merely out jogging.

The video shows the truck stopping in the middle of a residential street and Travis McMichael getting out before Arbery tries to run around the vehicle. 

Arbery can be seen grappling with Travis McMichael over the shotgun and punching him before being shot at point-blank range.

In video of the killing, Arbery can be seen grappling with Travis McMichael over the shotgun and punching him before being shot at point-blank range

In June, a grand jury indicted both McMichaels and a neighbor, William 'Roddie' Bryan, on charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, false imprisonment and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment.

Travis McMichael's attorneys, Robert Rubin and Jason Sheffield, wrote in court documents requesting bond that he lives with his parents, has a three-year-old son and doesn't have a passport. 

They cited his past service as a U.S. Coast Guard machine technician as proof of his character.

'In no way, shape or form is Travis hateful towards any group of people, nor does he look down on anyone based on race, religion or beliefs,' Curt Hall, a former Coast Guard roommate of Travis McMichael who described himself as 'multiracial,' wrote in a letter supporting bond for his friend.

Gregory McMichael, 64, is a retired investigator for the Brunswick Judicial Circuit district attorney's office and a former Glynn County police officer. 

Gregory McMichael is taken into custody in Brunswick, Georgia in May

Travis McMichael is arrested in Brunswick, Georgia in May. The father and son now seek bail

Gregory and Travis McMichael have been jailed since their arrests in May, more than two months after Arbery was slain

His lawyers said in a legal filing that they plan to present evidence in court to show why he should be freed on bond.

The McMichaels' attorneys are also asking the judge to reject the indictment´s malice murder charge, saying it was written in a way that improperly 'charges two crimes in one count.' 

They made a similar argument for tossing out a charge of criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment.

Bryan was previously denied bond. His attorney has argued in court motions that the entire indictment should be dismissed.

The outside prosecutor assigned to the case, Cobb County District Attorney Joyette Holmes, was defeated in the November 3 election. 

Holmes' successor, Flynn Broady, will inherit the case, said Katie Byrd, spokeswoman for state Attorney General Chris Carr.