A judge on Monday found the highest-ranking officer charged in Freddie Gray’s arrest and death not guilty on all counts, dealing a devastating blow to prosecutors, who have now tried four of the six officers initially indicted without winning a conviction. The Washington Post reported Hogan said: “It’s a waste of time and money”, adding “but that’s up to the court system to decide”.
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Williams is expected to announce his decision at 10 a.m., following a week-long bench trial in Baltimore City Circuit Court. Officer William Porter’s trial ended in a hung jury previous year and he is scheduled to be retried. He told prosecutors they failed to establish that Rice was aware of his duty to buckle Gray into a seat belt, and more importantly, that he deliberately breached his duty in order to put Gray in danger.
The most senior Baltimore police officer to face trial for the death of Freddie Gray was acquitted of all charges Monday (July 18), in a case that sparked riots and fuelled a national debate over police treatment of black Americans.
As predicted, the judge brought in Rice not guilty on all charges.
Judge Williams previously acquitted officer Edward Nero and the van’s driver Caesar Goodson Jr.in May and June, respectively. A jury couldn’t reach a verdict regarding officer William Porter’s involvement in this case.
Tawanda Jones, West’s sister, stood by West’s mother, Diane Butler, and other family members.
The officer’s attorney said police could use discretion, if they believe their safety is at risk. He died the same day at a hospital. One had a “Justice for Freddie Gray” sign, while the other held up a sign that read, “God never fails”.
And while the prosecution was able to prove that Rice made the decision to shackle Gray, and to transport Gray to the police department’s Western District rather than central booking, the state presented no indication as to why.
In a statement, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake asked the community to respect the judicial process during “a very hard time for our city”.
Gray’s death set of protest and rioting, the worst the city has endured in decades. “But in searching for the evidence to support that proposition, it just wasn’t there”, said Warren Brown, a defense attorney who is not involved in the case. An assault charge was thrown out by Judge Williams halfway through the trial due to insufficient evidence.
Witnesses say Gray was subjected to unnecessary force by police during his arrest and some have suggested he may have been given a “rough ride” in which police place a suspect into a van without a seatbelt and then drive erratically to cause injury. Rice is the officer who initiated the pursuit of Gray.
Even though it was the judge’s third consecutive acquittal in the case, prosecutors seem to be willing to try the remaining three cases amid mounting pressure to call it quits.
Brian Rice not guilty of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office Monday. Rice’s lawyers said a nearby apartment complex was “emptying out” and an angry crowd was cursing at officers. Freddie Gray was a 25-year-old Black man from Baltimore who died after experiencing a spinal cord injury in a police van last year. Rice’s case attempted to determine if not putting a seat belt on Gray constituted a crime, and the judge ruled it did not, according to the New York Times.
Rice is the highest-ranking of the officers. Three earlier trails resulted in two acquittals and a mistrial. Rice faces charges six charges including second degree murder and manslaughter.
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Williams said prosecutors had failed to meet their burden of proving the charges beyond a reasonable doubt, instead asking the court to rely on “presumptions or assumptions” – something it can not do.
