One of three men accused of the murder of Ahmaud Arbery used a racial slur after shooting him, a court has heard.
Arbery, 25, was shot and killed in broad daylight in Georgia, US, while out for a run in February.
Travis McMichael, 34, and his father Gregory, 64, had chased Arbery down in their truck after suspecting him of a series of break-ins.
William "Roddie" Bryan, 50, began following the chase and filmed the shooting, which caused widespread outrage after being posted online.
Both McMichaels are now facing murder charges and Bryan faces charges of murder and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment, BBC reported.
During a preliminary hearing on Thursday, Georgia Bureau of Investigation assistant special agent in charge Richard Dial testified that Travis used a racial slur as Arbery lay dying.
In a police interview on May 13, Bryan told police Travis said "f***ing n****r" during the shooting.
CNN says the court heard Travis had also used the same slur "numerous times" on social media and through messaging services, including one which said he loved his job because there "weren't any n****rs anywhere".
Dial was also asked if Travis could have been acting in self-defence.
"I believe Mr Arbery was being pursued, and he ran till he couldn't run anymore, and it was turn his back to a man with a shotgun or fight with his bare hands against the man with the shotgun. He chose to fight," he said.
"I believe Mr Arbery's decision was to just try to get away, and when he felt like he could not escape he chose to fight."
Bryan too had several messages on his phone that included "racial" terms and indicated he may have prejudged Arbery, Dial said.
"There's evidence of Mr Bryan's racist attitude in his communications, and from that, I extrapolate the reason why he made assumptions he did that day," Dial told the court.
"He saw a man running down the road with a truck following him, and I believe he made certain assumptions that were, at least in part, based upon his racial bias."
The three men will advance to court trials, the judge ruled.
