The artist carried an eight-foot banner to the steps of the Mitchell Courthouse in Baltimore Monday – the location of the first trial for the six officers arrested and charged in the April 2014 death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old Black man whose spine was severed when officers failed to place him in a seatbelt during transport in a police van. He has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, assault, misconduct and endangerment. He died from a spinal injury suffered in the back of a police van.
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After Murtha implied that Allan should have ruled Gray’s death an accident, he was told by Judge Barry Williams that he would be cited for contempt of court if he continued to insert his opinions into his line of questioning, according to the Baltimore Sun.
Porter’s attorneys say that as soon as their client realized Gray was seriously injured, he called for help.
Soriano testified as an expert witness in a case involving Dondi Johnson, a Baltimore man who was arrested in 2005 for public urination and left paralyzed after riding in the back of a police van. They’ve also tried to poke holes in the connection between Gray’s injury and Porter’s role in the 45-minute van ride that included six stops and concluded with Gray unresponsive on the wagon floor.
Earlier Monday, defense attorney Joe Murtha cross-examined an assistant state medical examiner and an expert medical witness about the possibility that Gray had a prior injury.
The assistant medical examiner was back on the stand Monday morning, testifying about Freddie Gray’s injuries.
Porter is facing manslaughter and other charges in the death of Gray, who injured his spine in the back of the police van.
Later, Allan said the fact Gray wasn’t buckled in was “not a primary concern” in considering the injuries, perhaps an important admission considering the state’s position that Porter’s failure to secure Gray in a belt amounts to criminal negligence. The nine-day autopsy, she said, was the most thorough in her career.
The van made six stops after Gray, handcuffed and shackled, was put in it. Medical help was not called until Gray was found unconscious at the last one, at a police station.
She asked the officers what happened, and they speculated Gray might have been banging his head on the side of the van.
Testimony resumes Tuesday, and the judge has said the case is expected to end by December 17.
“It was always a huge picture when you attempted to detain Freddie Gray”, Porter told investigators during his videotaped interview. She’s been replaced on the 12-member panel by alternate juror number one, a man.
If found guilty of all charges, Porter faces more than 25 years in prison.
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Before Williams’ surprise ruling, the day’s proceedings had been dominated by medical testimony about Gray’s injuries from the April incident – which included a broken neck and a severe spinal cord injury.
