Jackie Johnson case: Judge tosses last charge against ex-prosecutor accused of misconduct in Ahmaud Arbery case

Brunswick, Georgia AP — A judge Wednesday ended the trial of former Georgia prosecutor accused of using her influence to protect the men who chased and killed Ahmaud Arbery by throwing out the felony indictment used to charge her, abruptly halting the weeklong case before it went to the jury. His father, Marcus Arbery Sr., called the judge’s decision to end the trial “devastating.” His mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, said she believed the jury would have convicted Johnson. Prosecutors for Carr’s office accused Johnson of withholding information that a neighboring district attorney appointed by Carr to the case had already advised police that Arbery was shot in self-defense. “Ahmaud Arbery was slaughtered for no reason, and then Attorney General Carr piggybacked on the greatest tragedy … and indicted an innocent woman,” said Brian Steel, Johnson’s lead defense attorney. In a statement, Carr said his office had worked to do “everything possible to ensure justice was served.” “We stand by the case we presented,” Carr said, “and we regret that the jury won’t get to decide.” Defense attorneys for Johnson asked the judge to dismiss the indictment last week.