However, The Baltimore Sun reported that it was granted exclusive access to the police department’s investigation, which shows Porter allegedly told Officer Caesar Goodson Jr., the driver of the van in which Gray was transported after his arrest, that the police booking facility would not process Gray because of his medical condition.
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Mr. Gray was a 25-year-old black man who died on April 19 after sustaining a critical spinal cord injury while in police custody. His death led to protests, rioting and a curfew after people became angry over the police treatment of Gray.
White, Porter and Lieutenant Brian Rice are charged with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault and misconduct. He is accused of failing to provide or request medical care for Gray and not securing him safely in a van. The state indicated in a letter sent to the judge that they want between three and five days to present their case against each officer, and intend to call at least one officer to testify against the others.
Rice, White and Porter also face a manslaughter charge, while Officer Goodson faces the most serious charge of all: second-degree “depraved-heart” murder.
“Williams said that trying the officers together would not be “in the interest of justice” because key evidence that’s admissible with regards to one officer may be inadmissible for another”.
A judge ruled previously that the six officers involved in Gray’s detainment would have separate trials in Baltimore. Williams denied a defense request that the officers be allowed to attend that session to “place on the record several significant discovery issues which affect the respective Defendants in different ways and may require certain Defendants to seek postponements”, but left the door open for the officers to raise those concerns at a later date.
Officer Edward Nero, 29, was on bicycle and arrested Gray in the 1700 block of Presbury Street; Nero is charged with second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and two counts of misconduct in office. They have pleaded not guilty.
Porter is charged with manslaughter, assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office.
The parties met with Judge Barry Williams last Thursday in his chambers.
It isn’t clear what the officers will say in their testimonies, or how the state plans to use them as witnesses.
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Following Porter’s trial beginning November 30, Goodson’s trial will begin January 6; White on January 25; Miller on February 9; Nero on February 22; Rice on March 9.
