Williams, meeting the jurors in open court, instructed them to return to deliberations.
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Judge Barry Williams has told this jury there is no time limit on their deliberations, they can deliberate past the 5:30 p.m. closing time of the courthouse, and they should take all the time they need to reach a unanimous verdict.
The jury of four black women, three black men, three white women and two white men began deliberating on Monday afternoon. If convicted, Porter, who has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment, faces up to 25 years in prison. In Porters case, an officers negligence, rather than violent acts or excessive force, is on trial.
As the jury deliberated, armored vehicles and police were stationed around the city, and officials promised they were prepared for any unrest.
Included in their numerous notes were requests for highlighters, an easel, sticky notes, and external speakers for better sound quality to review recorded evidence. He’s one of six officers charged in Gray’s death.
The post Baltimore jury deadlocked in first Freddie Gray case appeared first on PBS NewsHour. They even took a trip to see the police wagon where Gray had been placed face-first on the floor, with his wrists cuffed behind his back and his ankles shackled.
Jaros added that if the jury remained deadlocked, Williams could issue a so-called Allen charge, pushing them to reach a verdict.
Gray died in April at age 25 as the result of a spinal injury incurred when he was handcuffed, but not properly secured, in the back of a police auto.
Dr. Carol Allan, the assistant state medical examiner, testified last week that Gray probably received his neck injury before the fourth stop, most likely at some point when the van stopped suddenly. A conviction or acquittal on one of the charges would stand regardless of whether a mistrial was declared on other charges.
“The absence of real evidence raises much more than reasonable doubt”, Murtha told jurors. Prosecutors say Porter is partially responsible for failing to buckle Gray into a seat belt and didn’t call a medic when he indicated he needed aid. On Monday, they were denied transcripts of radio tapes from the day of Gray’s arrest and of a recorded statement Porter provided to police investigators in the days following.
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The transport van “became his casket on wheels”, Bledsoe said.
