Gray was arrested after fleeing an officer and for possessing a knife.
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The defense has said Porter did not believe Gray, who had feigned illness when previously arrested, was seriously injured until the final stop. Prosecutors say his failure to summon medical help or buckle Gray in with a seatbelt amounted to criminal negligence.
Porter said he never buckled prisoners in because the van was too small and Gray didn’t appear injured during his ride in the van, so the officer didn’t call for a medic.
Porter is also black.
No matter what jurors decide in the first trial of a Baltimore police officer charged in the death of Freddie Gray, city leaders are calling for people to respect the judicial process.
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake joined Police Commissioner Kevin Davis at a news conference Wednesday to ask the public to respect the judicial process.
Anti-violence advocate Carlmichael “Stokey” Cannady says he believes justice will prevail and members of the community there agreed that change is coming.
Porter, who is also black, told jurors that when Gray was arrested, he overheard him screaming and mentioning something about needing an inhaler.
William Porter testified Wednesday in his own defense.
Expert witnesses testified that Gray died from a “high-energy” injury akin to the trauma that would be suffered diving into a shallow pool.
Porter said that “after talking to Freddie Gray, he was unable to give me a reason for a medical emergency”.
Asked if Gray said he couldn’t breathe, Porter replied: “Absolutely not”.
Of the roughly 150 prisoners he put in police wagons during his time on the job, Porter said, none was secured with a seat belt.
The prosecution rested its case Tuesday after calling about 15 witnesses in the manslaughter trial of a Baltimore police officer charged in the death of Freddie Gray.
The first defense witness was Dr. Vincent Di Maio, the former chief medical examiner in Dallas and San Antonio.
Di Maio has been an expert witness in a number of high-profile trials, including the Phil Spector, George Zimmerman and Drew Peterson cases. Defense attorneys say Gray suffered his injury later and that the officer did what any officer would do.As Porter spoke, jurors listened intently, some leaning forward and scribbling notes as he spoke.
The defense is expected to enter into evidence a statement uncovered earlier this week that Freddie Gray gave a detective in March, complaining of a back injury.
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Porter, 26, faces charges of manslaughter, assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct. Gray asked Porter for medical assistance when the officer checked on him at the fourth stop, according to Allan’s testimony and Porter’s interview with department investigators. Additionally, Lyman said there is no reason, barring the officer feeling that he or she is in danger, not to secure a detainee in a seat belt.
