Tuesday and Wednesday hearings in the Freddie Gray case

A Baltimore judge could rule this week whether statements provided by police officers involved in Freddie Gray’s arrest and transport will be hidden from jurors or allowed as evidence in their pending criminal trials. Prosecutors say Porter, charged with manslaughter, reckless endangerment and assault, will be a key witness in the trials of other officers scheduled for early next year.

Gray, 25, suffered a spinal cord injury after being arrested on April 12 and transported in a police van. Porter also reportedly said that Officer Alicia White, who is also charged in the case, knew Gray needed medical attention.

The officers are facing individual trials, with starting dates scheduled from November 20 to March.

Gray’s death led to rioting, looting and arson. In court Tuesday, White’s attorneys argued that she felt compelled to answer detectives’ questions because of her department’s standing order requiring officers to provide statements in investigations.

Protesters have gathered outside the courthouse in recent weeks for multiple cases, including the cases of those who were arrested in the protests and riots that followed Gray’s death. They argue their clients did not make the statements to investigators voluntarily or were not clearly informed of their Miranda rights before speaking to police, according to the filings. One didn’t give a statement.

Detective Syreeta Teal testified that White signed a form waiving the rights when she was questioned a few days later at police headquarters.

Three of the officers, Lt. Brian Rice, Officer Garrett Miller and Officer Edward Nero have now withdrawn their requests to suppress the statement.

Rice, White and Porter have all said they gave their statements under duress, for fear of losing their jobs.

“If the state says they weren’t in custody, that the investigators were only getting a report and finding out what’s going on, [the officers] would have to take the stand and give their state of mind”, Brown said. One of them insists that never happened. Instead, as journalists and law enforcement officers lined up outside the Baltimore circuit court as the sun rose, Baltimore sheriff’s officials erected a small barricade in front of a then-empty public line into what would be a fifth motions hearing for the officers.

The hearings Tuesday and Wednesday are scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m.