In October, more than a dozen activists, including several high school students, were arrested after an overnight sit-in at City Hall. He testified that he told Goodson to take him there, because the jail would reject a prisoner even falsely claiming injury.
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Jurors left the courtroom at about 2:30 p.m. Monday to begin their discussions after a two-week trial. Goodson is charged with second-degree depraved-heart…
Porter “knew Freddie was hurt badly, but he did nothing”, Bledsoe told jurors, also accusing the 26-year-old Baltimore native of making misleading statements and covering for his fellow officers.
The case went to the jury Monday after closing arguments.
If convicted, the officer faces a maximum sentence of 10 years or a minimum of probation. Porter faces involuntary manslaughter and other charges in Freddie Gray’s death from a broken neck suffered in the back of a police van.
Prosecutors say Gray didn’t get the medical help he asked for during one stop of the van.
“The absence of real evidence raises much more than reasonable doubt”, Murtha told jurors. He is charged with manslaughter, assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office.
The jurors later sought clarification of “evil motive” and other terms, but the judge said could not expand on his instructions.
Smith said the center opened at noon Monday at an undisclosed location.
Mayer said Hogan told community leaders in Baltimore during a recent meeting that the state would be “hoping for the best and preparing for the worst”. “Porter had the opportunity on four or five occasions to wield his power to save Freddie Gray”.
Porter told jurors he asked Gray if he wanted to go to the hospital, but never called a medic because Gray said only “yes”.
The van stopped three more times as officers checked on Gray.
Prosecutors say he didn’t call for an ambulance and ignored a policy requiring officers to buckle prisoners in seat belts.
“I understand that there is a need to find someone accountable, to hold someone responsible for the death of Freddie Gray”, Murtha said. He was put in a transport van, shackled and handcuffed, but he was not secured by a seat belt.
Porter attorney Joe Murtha emphasized testimony from the defense team’s medical experts that called into question the conclusions reached by the state’s medical examiner’s office.
Gray died of a spinal injury and his death triggered rioting, arson and protests in the majority black city.
Officer Edward M. Nero, is one of six Baltimore, Maryland police officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray.
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has said she is sure city officials are prepared for any protests that may arise. She says it will help agencies coordinate any necessary response.
‘Whatever the verdict, we need everyone in our city to respect the judicial process, ‘ Rawlings-Blake said.
Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis would not comment what measures they have taken to prepare for any potential unrest but said, “We’re not going to allow human beings to hurt other human beings, we’re not going to allow homes to be destroyed, businesses to be destroyed, police officers to be hurt, fires be set”.
Demonstrations were initially peaceful following the young black man’s death on April 19, a week after his arrest.
A total of 28 witnesses were called over eight days of testimony, 16 for the prosecution and 12 for the defense.
Porter’s trial is beginning its third week. Gray was arrested about seven city blocks from the station, and yet police stopped the van repeatedly along the way, turning the trip into a 45-minute ordeal.
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By Porter doing nothing and closing the doors of the wagon, knowing Gray was not OK, the prosecution said, “that van became his casket on wheels”.
