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The AJC Breakdown podcast

Defense lawyers for Travis McMichael, his father Greg McMichael and Roddie Bryan are accused of murdering Ahmaud Arbery in 2020. Episode 10 of the AJC's "Breakdown" podcast focuses on a crucial hearing to determine whether Arbery's past can be used during the murder trial.
‘Breakdown’ Ep. 10: The defense makes its case
Lawyers for the men accused of killing Ahmaud Arbery want the jury to hear about Arbery's past scrapes with the law and his mental health history. Episode 9 of the AJC's "Breakdown" podcast explores how Arbery's past could impact the trial. (Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com)
‘Breakdown’ Ep. 9: Is Ahmaud’s imperfect past relevant?
Ahmaud Arbery's mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, speaks to "Breakdown" about her son's killing one year ago. The podcast's latest episode looks at who Arbery was, and explores a 2017 incident Arbery had with law enforcement. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
‘Breakdown’ Ep. 8: He ran. And ran. And ran.
Season 8 — The Ahmaud Arbery case
This viral video of Ahhaud Arbery's last moments made the case nationally known. Now the producers of the AJC's 'Breakdown' podcast have been able to see the bodycam footage from the first police officers on the scene. That footage is the subject of the seventh episode of the 'Breakdown' podcast, now in its eighth season.
‘Breakdown’ Ep. 7: The immediate aftermath
Wanda Cooper-Jones, mother of Ahmaud Arbery, sits for a portrait in Augusta's Pendleton King Park. The sixth episode of the eighth season of "Breakdown" follows the bond hearings for Travis and Greg McMichael, which included a powerful victim impact statement from Cooper-Jones. (ALYSSA POINTER / ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM)
‘Breakdown’ Ep.6: The McMichaels plead for bond
The fifth episode of the 8th season of "Breakdown" looks at how charges of racism will shape the trials of the Greg and Travis McMichael, and William Bryan, all accused of murdering Ahmaud Arbery. (ALYSSA POINTER / ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM)
‘Breakdown’ S08 Ep.5: The elephant in the room
The fourth episode of the 8th season of "Breakdown" looks at the backgrounds of Gregory and Travis McMichael, the father-and-son suspects in the Ahmaud Arbery murder. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)
‘Breakdown’ S08, Ep. 4: Father and son
In the third episode of the 8th season of "Breakdown," Bill Rankin and Asia Simone Burns take a close look at Georgia's citizen arrest law. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)
‘Breakdown’ S08 Ep. 3: How Georgia lets citizens arrest fellow citizens
In the second episode of the 8th season of "Breakdown," the three defendents in the Ahmaud Arbery case get their day in court. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)
‘Breakdown’ S08 Ep.2: Defendants in Arbery case get their day in court
In a special episode of the AJC's "Breakdown" podcast, hosts Bill Rankin and Greg Bluestein explore the Ahmaud Arbery case and where it goes from here.
‘Breakdown’ S08, Ep.1 : The Ahmaud Arbery case begins
Travis McMichael in court on June 4
Documents: The Ahmaud Arbery shooting case
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More on the Ahmaud Arbery case
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Season 7 — Judgment Call
Anthony Hill — seen here with his parents Anthony Hill Sr. and Carolyn Baylor-Giummo — was an Afghanistan War veteran killed in 2015 during an encounter with DeKalb police officer Chip Olsen.
‘Breakdown’ S07, Ep. 1: ‘They’re here to help me’
Former DeKalb County police officer Robert "Chip" Olsen and his wife Kathy Olsen stand for a photo at their Alpharetta residence. The couple has been married for 16 years. (Alyssa Pointer/alyssa.pointer@ajc.com)
‘Breakdown’ S07 Ep. 2: The road to indictment
Former DeKalb County Police Officer Robert Olsen stands by himself on a break from testifying during his pre-trial in May of 2018. (STEVE SCHAEFER / SPECIAL TO THE AJC)
‘Breakdown’ S07 Ep. 3: ‘Impervious to pain, superhuman strength’
Protesters celebrate after hearing that former DeKalb County Police Officer Robert "Chip" Olsen was indicted by a grand jury in January 2016 for the shooting death of Anthony Hill. Episode 4 of Breakdown examines why police encounters with the mentally ill often turn deadly. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com
‘Breakdown’ S07 Ep. 4: Policing a mental health crisis
Defense attorney Don Samuel delivers his opening statement in his client Robert Olsen's murder trial. Episode 5 of "Breakdown" follows Samuel's mock jury as his defense team refines their strategy. (Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com)
‘Breakdown’ S07, Ep. 5: A Trial Run
Prosecutor Buffy Thomas delivers her opening statement at the Chip Olsen murder trial on Oct. 26, 2019. (Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com)
‘Breakdown’ S07, Ep. 6: Unarmed. Unclothed. Unable to Harm?
Pedro Castillo Flores shows how Anthony Hill had his hands raised before the shooting during the murder trial of former DeKalb County Police Officer Robert "Chip" Olsen. (Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com)
‘Breakdown’ S07, Ep. 7: Three Eyewitnesses
DeKalb Police Sgt. J.K. Walker, who trained former DeKalb County Police Officer Robert "Chip" Olsen, testifies use of force policies and demonstrates the use of an expandable baton at Olsen's murder trial. (Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com)
‘Breakdown’ S07, Ep. 8: The state strikes back
Katherine Olsen, right, wife of former DeKalb County Police officer Robert Olsen, is consoled after her husband was sentenced to 20 years, with a mandatory of 12 years to serve, on Nov. 1, 2019. (Alyssa Pointer/Atlanta Journal Constitution)
‘Breakdown’ S07, Episode 9: The Verdict
Anthony Hill and his parents - Anthony Hill Sr. and Carolyn Baylor-Giummo
Who was Anthony Hill?
Season 6 — A Jury of His Peers
Bill Rankin and Kevin Riley cohost the sixth season of 'Breakdown.' (BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM )
‘Breakdown’ S06, Ep. 1: A Jury of His Peers
AJC Editor Kevin Riley reviews the script for Episode 2 just before he and Bill Rankin entered the booth to record their narration.
‘Breakdown’ S06, Ep. 2: Voice of a killer?
Nicholas Benton, accused of a double-murder during a drug deal gone bad, appears at a hearing in Fulton County Superior Court. (BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM)
‘Breakdown’ S06, Ep. 3: A trial by jury
Surveillance video captures two men as the approach a Pontiac Bonneville at a Valero station in northwest Atlanta in April 2016. The man on the right was Quincy Wytche, who would be shot dead a few minutes later. On the left, police say, is Nicholas Benton, who was later charged with killing Wytche and a second man.
‘Breakdown’ S06, Ep. 4: Deliberation
Season 5 — The McIver Murder Case
A Fulton County sheriff's deputy escorts Claud "Tex" McIver into the courtroom for a pretrial hearing. (AJC file image)
‘Breakdown’ S05 Ep. 1: The Tex McIver case
Tex and Diane McIver in an undated photo.
‘Breakdown’ S05 Ep. 2: Whirlwind romance, storybook wedding, tragic death
Diane McIver poses with Donald Trump, then a presidential candidate, and Gov. Nathan Deal.
‘Breakdown’ S05 Ep. 2.5: McIver trial delayed, with fireworks
McIver confers with attorney Bruce Harvey, who has been joined on the defense team by Don Samuel. Bob Andres / bandres@ajc.com
‘Breakdown’ S05, Ep. 3:  Muddy Waters
Season 4 — Murder Below the Gnat Line
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‘Breakdown’ S04, Ep. 1: Was the right man convicted in South Georgia murder?
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‘Breakdown’ S04, Ep. 2: Two key witnesses change their stories
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‘Breakdown’ S04, Ep. 3: A murder and a mask
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‘Breakdown’ S04, Ep. 4: ‘You will die in prison, never to be released’
Season 3 — Predator, M.D.
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‘Breakdown’ S03 Ep. 1: Predator, M.D.
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‘Breakdown’ S03, Ep. 2: Allegations dogged doctor for decades, went unheeded
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‘Breakdown’ S03, Ep. 3: Why would a doctor abuse his patients?
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‘Breakdown’ S03, Ep. 4: Doctor relocates his practice, and his problem
Season 2 — Death in a Hot Car
Justin Ross Harris Case Podcast: Season 2 of “Breakdown” from the AJC explores the death of Cooper Harris in a hot car. Breakdown Season 2, Episode 1: “Mistake or Murder?” is now available in iTunes or your favorite podcast app.
‘Breakdown’ S02 Ep. 1: Death in a Hot Car — Mistake or Murder?
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‘Breakdown’ S02 Ep. 2: Did the police get the evidence right?
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‘Breakdown’ S02 Ep. 3: Leanna Harris: Once implicated, never charged
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‘Breakdown’ S02 Ep. 4: Deciding the case before it begins?
Season 1 — Railroad Justice in a Railroad Town
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‘Breakdown’ S01 Ep.1: Railroad justice in a railroad town
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‘Breakdown’ S01 Ep. 2: Public defender lost but never gave up
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‘Breakdown’ S01 Ep. 3: The view from the stoop, a botched appeal
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‘Breakdown’ S01 Ep. 4: Interlude--Of prison riots and mountain trackers
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