Baltimore police van driver’s case now in judge’s hands

That appears to contradict the prosecution’s argument in this case that Goodson, and no other officer, had custody of Gray, and was therefore responsible for his injuries and death.

Repairing the relationship between Baltimore’s prosecutors and police after the death of Freddie Gray could take much longer after they traded accusations of sabotage, misconduct and dirty dealings during the murder trial of Officer Caesar Goodson.

Closing arguments are scheduled in the trial of a Baltimore police officer charged with murder in the death of a black prisoner whose neck was broken in a transport van.

Other officers left Gray in handcuffs and leg shackles inside the paddy wagon, leaving him unable to protect himself from being slammed into the van’s metal walls during the ride.

During closing arguments Monday, prosecutors continued to argue that Goodson failed on two accounts: neglecting to provide Gray with proper medical assistance after Gray indicated that he wanted to go to the hospital and failing to put a seat belt Gray in the back of the van. Gray later died from his injuries on April 19, 2015.

The defense countered by pointing out that none of the city surveillance video that captured portions of the drive showed Goodson driving in such a manner – and called a fellow arrestee who was also inside the van to testify that it was actually a “smooth” ride.

Williams asked Schatzow if the injuries sustained by Gray could have been the result of a simple accident.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – A judge has declared a mistrial in the prosecution of a Virginia police officer charged with murder in the off-duty shooting of an 18-year-old man at a auto wash.

Officer Caesar Goodson, right, arrives at the courthouse in Baltimore, Maryland, June 20, 2016.

Williams looked incredulous, and asked why Goodson would stop the van to check on Gray if his intention was to harm him. He also testified that on the day he was picked up with Gray, he heard someone say “I guess you gave him (Gray) a run for his money because he’s unconscious”.

CNN legal analyst Andrew Alperstein said a bench trial could help Goodson.

“Officer Goodson never calls a medic, he never takes Freddie Gray to a hospital”, she said.

Schatzow said “there was a effect greater than anticipated, and he needed to figure out what to do about it”.

Although the defense peppered the court with theories designed to create reasonable doubt, he said, Gray’s injuries and Goodson’s failure to restrain him may be enough to show the officer acted with “depraved indifference”.

“They want you to find the black ace”, Fraling said.

Goodson is the third officer to go to trial, following Officers William G. Porter and Edward M. Nero. Using medical experts, the defense sought to show the injury occurred between stops five and six, limiting the time Goodson had to address any issues with Gray. And officers still can’t be fired without an internal review or a felony conviction, even if, like Goodson, they refuse to talk with investigators.

Porter’s trial ended with a hung jury in December and he will be retried in September.