The opening arguments came after a 90-minute hearing in which Circuit Judge Barry Williams, who will decide Goodson’s fate instead of a jury, blasted prosecutors for failing to disclose a meeting they had with Allen past year at which they did not take notes. Goodson’s attorneys wanted Williams to dismiss the charges against their client.
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Baltimore Police Department officer Caesar Goodson, Jr., was put on trial Thursday in the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old man who suffered a fatal spinal cord injury in April 2015 after he was arrested by police in a low rent Baltimore neighborhood. However, a second passenger in the van, Donta Allen, has previously disputed this accusation and stated the ride was “smooth” and uneventful. But Allen then told reporters that he only heard faint sounds coming from Gray.
But Baltimore Circuit Judge Barry Williams allowed opening statements to proceed, despite the violation of discovery rules. Schatzow is a former federal prosecutor and longtime white-collar lawyer, while Bledsoe is a former defense attorney who briefly led police misconduct investigations under former State’s Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein.
Caesar Goodson Jr.is the only suspect in the case charged besides assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office with second-degree depraved-heart murder and manslaughter. The case against the first officer to go to trial ended in a hung jury in December; last month, the second officer brought to trial was acquitted. Prosecutors admitted to meeting the man, but said that he didn’t produce new information and they don’t plan to call him as a witness.
Graham said several officers were involved in loading Gray into the van and Goodson was not among them. They told Williams that Allen’s statement was similar to what he had said before and they did not take notes. “Gray’s injury”, Schatzow said. He said Goodson did not act with any malice or a “depraved heart” as prosecutors contend. Gray continued to thrash around in the van for several stops, the attorney said.
That the determination will hinge on whether Goodson is liable for Gray’s death because he chose not to properly secure Gray in the van – the responsibility of police transport drivers – and did not render him medical aid when he needed it. “Prompt medical attention would have saved his life”.
Gray was arrested in West Baltimore after making eye contact with a bicycle officer and running away.
He’s the third of six Baltimore officers to stand trial in the Gray case.
Williams said Schatzow and his office should have known that evidence involving a witness interview should have been turned over to the defence.
Officers arrested Gray and placed him inside the van for transport.
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Goodson has also selected a bench trial, waiving his right to a jury.
