Goodson, one of six Baltimore police officers charged in connection with the death of Freddie Gray, goes on trial starting Thursday.
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Graham told the judge that the assistant medical examiner who prepared Gray’s autopsy report and ruled his death a homicide initially told an investigator that it was “a freakish accident” before meeting with prosecutors and changing her mind.
Prosecutors launched their opening arguments in the third trial against a Baltimore Police officer in the case of Freddie Gray’s death.
Allen previously had talked to police at the Western District homicide office in April 2015, saying that Gray had been thrashing around the van.
During the 45-minute ride, a shackled but unrestrained Gray suffered a severe spinal injury that resulted in his death a week alter.
Schatzow said Goodson was “never in any danger from” Gray and had no reason not to seat belt him.
An important point made by the defense and witnesses during both of these trials was the van driver bears ultimate responsibility for the safety of the detainee.
“There was no good reason for the defendant not to belt him in, except to bounce him around”, Chief Deputy State’s Attorney Michael Schatzow said. He ordered the prosecution to turn over all material to lawyers for Goodson and the officers still facing trial. “If you don’t understand that then I don’t know what else you don’t understand”. Being charged with murder, he faces the most serious counts of all the officers involved. Goodson declined a jury trial and will have his fate decided by Williams.
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, in which they did not take notes.
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Over the past year, prosecutors had hinted that Gray was subjected to such treatment. Caesar Goodson, who was driving the transport wagon, faces second-degree murder, manslaughter, assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment charges in the death of Freddie Gray. Allen later publicly recanted, saying he only heard a faint tapping. Judge Williams found today that prosecutors committed a so-called Brady Violation because Allen’s May 2015 statement was deemed exculpatory evidence and it’s the state’s duty to divulge this information to the defense. 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. His retrial is scheduled for September and he is expected to testify during Goodson’s trial.
