Baltimore awaits verdict in police van driver murder trial

There are four remaining court dates for the six officers.

Gray had been handcuffed and shackled but not secured with a seat belt in the back of the van, a violation of police department policy.

The untimely death of Freddie erupted protests that turned violent, setting fire to Baltimore literally, riots, stand-offs and pelting the city into the war and injustice of police brutality. The unrest forced the city’s mayor to abandon her re-election campaign, and the Department of Justice opened an investigation into allegations of widespread police abuse.

He was accused of not ensuring his passenger’s safety and not calling for medical assistance. Gray, and this Court has already determined there is insufficient evidence concerning that issue, the State is required to show that the defendant was aware of the risk that this would, not could, cause and acted with extreme disregard for the life endangering consequences. The other officers’ trial dates are: Miller (July 27), Porter (Sept. 6) and Sgt. Alicia White (Oct. 13).

Gray was arrested by bicycle officers on April 12, 2015, after he caught their eye and ran.

The van made a total of six stops that day, and Gray was unresponsive on arrival at the station house 45 minutes later. They also said Goodson failed to seek medical care for Gray at numerous opportunities.

“If they withdrew the charges, the community would be outraged”, he said. Prosecutors countered that the initial injury became critical as the trip continued.

Goodson was the officer who faced the most serious charges.

Prosecutors, arguing Goodson’s erratic driving allowed Gray to be tossed around inside the van, called 22 witnesses during the trial.

Williams said the timeline of Gray’s injuries remains unclear, and the state “failed to meet its burden” to present enough evidence to back its assertions. “There’s going to be many more Freddie Grays, many more Tyrone Wests, many more Anthony Andersons thanks to this bull crap judicial system”.

The judge also dismissed the “rough ride” theory, which he called the centerpiece of the state’s case. What if Gray had emerged from the van unhurt, despite being unbuckled, and was found to be falsely claiming injury in order to avoid jail?

“Everybody is going to get a trial”, he said. “Gray created the high-degree of risk”, defense attorney Matthew Fraling said during the bench trial.

At some point – I marked it at about 10:32 am – Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby appeared to shake her head, as in SMH, as in, “I can’t believe this”. Gray’s death previous year set off the city’s worst riots in decades.

Legal expert and longtime defense lawyer Barry Slotnick said the Goodson verdict should surprise no one.

Maryland Circuit Judge Barry Williams found Officer Caesar R. Goodson Jr. not guilty on all charges for his role in the death of Freddie Gray.

Murder carries the toughest penalty – 30 years in prison. Rice, one of the officers who arrested Gray, faces charges including manslaughter and second-degree assault. Goodson had pleaded not guilty on all charges.

A new development has surfaced in the death of Freddie Gray. The case of Officer William Porter ended in a mistrial last December.

Nero arrived at the courthouse Thursday amid security from sheriff’s deputies, who went inside with him.

Goodson waived a jury trial, leaving it to Williams to decide his fate.

Goodson is also charged with second-degree assault, misconduct in office, involuntary manslaughter, manslaughter by vehicles (gross negligence), manslaughter by vehicle (criminal negligence) and reckless endangerment.