New trial date set for officer in Gray case

A Baltimore judge scheduled a retrial date Monday following the mistrial of one of six officers charged in connection with the death of Freddie Gray.

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

Goodson faces the most serious charge of any of the six officers, second-degree depraved murder, and his trial is set to begin January 6.

Despite concern that a mistrial could set the tone for the remaining trials, legal expert Damario Solomon-Simmons urged the public in a NewsOne exclusive to remember that the failure to make a decision does not equate to an acquittal. Gray, an 25-year-old man, died in police custody on April 19 following an April 12 arrest. The trial date will be formalized and approved at an Administrative Court hearing on Tuesday morning at Courthouse East. “The sole goal of the hearing is to have the new trial date read into the record”, the judiciary wrote in a statement. The prosecution planned to use a convicted Porter to testify against the other officers, but the mistrial makes the officers less likely to testify against each other.

During Porter’s first trial, prosecutors claimed Porter was criminally negligent for ignoring a policy requiring officers to strap prisoners in with a seat belt and for not calling an ambulance immediately after Gray indicated he needed medical aid. “If the prosecution is allowing Porter to be the last to be tried and they want his testimony, then there had to be an offer [of immunity]”.

Last week, a jury deadlocked in Porter’s trial, resulting in Williams declaring a mistrial.

“In some sense, they may have some political cover to give Officer Porter immunity”, Jaros said.