Officer charged in Freddie Gray death takes the stand

The Baltimore police officer charged in the April death of a black man from an injury while in custody testified on Wednesday that he had not called for medical help because there appeared to be no reason for one. His death set off protests and a riot in the city, and became a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement.

Schatzow pointed out that Gray’s spinal cord was not 100 percent cut, and questioned whether Di Maio was sure that Gray would not have been able to speak at the fourth stop in which he talked with Porter.

Maryland Assistant Medical Examiner Dr. Carol Allan testified for the state that Gray’s neck was most likely broken between the second and fourth stops of a ride in a police van.

But Porter did not say that in a later statement to investigators, according to testimony.

He testified that he told both the van driver, officer Ceasar Goodson, and both of the arresting officers that Gray needed to be taken to the hospital – if only to save time when Central Booking would refuse him because of an injury. At the sixth stop at Western District precinct, Gray was unresponsive.

“You call for an ambulance if you have a medical emergency”. Porter: “Absolutely. Freddie Gray and I weren’t friends”.

A police investigator previously testified that Porter told her that Gray said he couldn’t breathe during the van ride.

However, Porter later said things that conflicted with what Det.

Porter: “I thought I was a witness not a suspect”.

“I’m actually offended you’d say something like that”.

When apparently pressed by Schatzow about why Porter didn’t provide more detailed information when first interviewed, Porter replied that he did give the names of every officer there, but that he wasn’t sure of each officer’s specific actions at every moment and did not want to provide misinformation. DiMaio has also testified on behalf of George Zimmerman, Phil Spector and Drew Peterson.

Dr. Vincent Di Maio, a forensic pathologist and former chief medical examiner in San Antonio, said Gray’s injury was “so violent, it’s so high-energy”, that it would have immediately caused Gray to lose control of his body and his diaphragm, which is critical for breathing and speaking.

Porter, who is charged with manslaughter in Gray’s death, also told a packed courtroom that the 25-year-old Gray never told him that he could not breathe.

Prosecutors are cross-examining the officer charged with manslaughter in the death of Freddie Gray.

“There was no intent in this case of fear, harm or death”.

Porter finished testifying Wednesday afternoon. He said he’s been a part of about 200 arrests involving wagon transport and no prisoners were belted in.

“I had plenty to do”, he said at his trial in Gray’s death.

Schatzow: “You said engrained in you as a police officer was to protect life …”

William Porter faces charges of second-degree assault, involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office.

The prosecution wrapped up its case Tuesday morning after five days and 16 witnesses. Allan and a neurosurgeon the prosecution brought in as a witness both dismissed the defense’s suggestion that Gray could have injured himself, saying the force of the impact was too strong.

Why didn’t Porter seatbelt Gray? .

Allen is expected to testify tomorrow.

“This defendant did nothing to get him a medic or get him to the hospital”.

A jury of seven women and five men is hearing the case.

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Barry Williams said he expects the trial to be complete by December 17.