york prosecutor. he's an nbc news legal analyst. katie, who are we hearing from this court today and when can we expect the sentences to be handed down? >> reporter: well, as you said, this is a mandatory life sentence. the judge is determining whether any of the three defendants should have given the possibility of parole after serving 30 years. he will make that decision after hearing several testimonies from the stand. we know that arbery's mother and father will make brief statements. we don't know if anyone will call -- we know the defendants themselves will be given an opportunity to speak to the judge directly before they are sentenced. now, outside the courtroom, we're seeing a lot of the same familiar faces we've been seeing throughout the trial. a lot of advocates for racial justice supporting the arbery family. this morning in the way into the courtroom, his mother talked and spoke to the media saying she will be seeking the harshest