A white supremacist has been found guilty of assaulting a black protester at the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia last summer.

Jurors found Jacob Goodwin guilty of malicious wounding after he admitted to repeatedly kicking DeAndre Harris in a parking lot outside the rally in August. The jury recommended a sentence of 10 years in prison for Goodwin, with the option of suspending some time and paying a $20,000 fine.

The 23-year-old attended the Unite the Right Rally along with hundreds of other white supremacists, who marched on the town to protest the removal of a confederate statue from a local park.

Goodwin and several others attacked Mr Harris in a parking lot after witnessing a scuffle between the 20-year-old and white supremacist Harold Ray Crews. The group’s attack left Mr Harris with a spinal injury, a broken arm and head lacerations that required eight staples.

Goodwin’s attorney, Elmer Woodard, argued that Mr Harris had provoked the attack himself, and that Goodwin had acted in self defence. Goodwin testified that he was scared for his life after watching the fight with Mr Crews, and was trying to “neutralize a threat,” according to the Washington Post.

Nazi shouts "Hey n****" and fires gunshot at counter-protester in Charlottesville

Goodwin has previously described himself as an advocate for “white civil rights,” and a member of white supremacist Billy Roper’s ShieldWall Network. He wore pins bearing the number 88, code for “Heil Hitler,” to the rally, according to the Post.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Nina-Alice Antony challenged the defence team’s version of events, reminding jurors that Goodwin was dressed in a helmet and goggles and carrying a plastic shield and at the time he attacked Mr Harris.

“Does Jacob Goodwin see someone over there and go help?” she asked the jury. “Or does he outfit himself for battle and run in to do battle?”

Before the nine women and three men deliberated on their recommended sentence, Ms Antony reminded them that Goodwin had yet to express any remorse for his actions.

Presiding judge Richard E Moore will sentence Goodwin in August.

Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Show all 9 1 /9 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Protesters clash and several are injured White nationalist demonstrators clash with counter demonstrators at the entrance to Lee Park in Charlottesville, Virginia. A state of emergency is declared, August 12 2017 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Trump supporters at the protest A white nationalist demonstrator walks into Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Hundreds of people chanted, threw punches, hurled water bottles and unleashed chemical sprays on each other Saturday after violence erupted at a white nationalist rally in Virginia. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville State police stand ready in riot gear Virginia State Police cordon off an area around the site where a car ran into a group of protesters after a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Militia armed with assault rifles White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' with body armor and combat weapons evacuate comrades who were pepper sprayed after the 'Unite the Right' rally was declared a unlawful gathering by Virginia State Police. Militia members marched through the city earlier in the day, armed with assault rifles. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Statue of Confederate General Robert E Lee The statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee stands behind a crowd of hundreds of white nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' during the 'Unite the Right' rally 12 August 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. They are protesting the removal of the statue from Emancipation Park in the city. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Racial tensions sparked the violence White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' exchange insults with counter-protesters as they attempt to guard the entrance to Lee Park during the 'Unite the Right' rally Getty Violence on the streets of Charlottesville A car plows through protesters A vehicle drives into a group of protesters demonstrating against a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The incident resulted in multiple injuries, some life-threatening, and one death. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Rescue personnel help injured people after a car ran into a large group of protesters after an white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville President Donald Trump speaks about the ongoing situation in Charlottesville, Virginia from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. He spoke about "loyalty" and "healing wounds" left by decades of racism.

Mr Harris was found not guilty of assault in the scuffle with Mr Crews earlier this year. At the time, defence attorney Rhonda Quagliana told The Independent she was “happy and relieved” at the outcome.

“DeAndre is a 20-year-old young person and the things that happened to him on that day, and the difficulties that he’s endured after the last several months, have been nothing short of overwhelming for someone his age,” she said.

Three other men have also been arrested in connection with Mr Harris’s attack. Alex Michael Ramos will start trial this week. Daniel Borden and Tyler Watkins Davis will both stand trial this summer.