Jay-Z sends private plane to fly Ahmaud Arbery lawyers to court hearing

Three men have been charged in connection with Arbery's death

Clémence Michallon
New York City
Friday 05 June 2020 22:37 BST
Ahmaud Arbery's death draws protests in Atlanta

Two lawyers representing Ahmaud Arbery’s family have credited Jay-Z and his organisation Roc Nation with providing them crucial help to attend a recent court hearing with their clients.

S Lee Merritt and Blerim Elmazi have both posted on social media about the 4 June hearing in Brunswick, Georgia.

According to Elmazi, they struggled to find means of transportation and “started losing hope” when Roc Nation, an entertainment company founded by Jay-Z, which also has a social justice component, got involved.

“Court hearing in Brunswick, Georgia this morning. No flights to take us there last night. @leemerrittesq and I spent hours trying to find flights or cars,” Elmazi wrote.

“At 1am we started losing hope till we got a call from Jay-Z’s people at Roc Nation who chartered a flight for us to attend this hearing with the family of Ahmaud Arbery.

“Thankful for their support.”

Merritt posted: “When you absolutely have to be in court to stand with your client and righteous protestors for justice... Jay-Z sends his private jet.”

Both lawyers shared a photo of themselves in front of the plane, carrying red T-shirts with the words “legal observer” on them.

Glynn County Magistrate Court Judge Wallace E Harrell had set the 4 June hearing back in May.

During the hearing on Thursday, a judge found that the cases against three men charged in the death all meet the probable cause threshold, meaning they can go to trial.

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