BALTIMORE | The judge who will decide the fate of a police officer charged in the death of Freddie Gray on Thursday blasted city prosecutors for failing to turn over evidence that could exculpate the officer.
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Allen previously had talked to police at the Western District homicide office in April 2015, saying that Gray had been thrashing around the van.
During the 45-minute ride, a shackled but unrestrained Gray suffered a severe spinal injury that resulted in his death a week alter.
On Monday, the officer elected for a bench trial, meaning his fate will be decided by the same judge who acquitted a Baltimore officer last month on charges related to Gray’s controversial death a year ago.
“I’ve been trying to think, could I imagine anyone else in terms of their career path who would have been better prepared for this case?” said Larry Gibson, a longtime professor at the University of Maryland Francis Carey Law Center who once taught Williams.
Allen initially told police be believed he heard Gray banging himself inside the van, according to police documents.
Goodson faces charges alleging second-degree depraved-heart murder, second-degree assault, misconduct in office, involuntary manslaughter, manslaughter by vehicles (gross negligence), manslaughter by vehicle (criminal negligence) and reckless endangerment.
Prosecutors dismissed the complaint, saying the interview produced nothing of value, and argued they didn’t need to disclose the interview because they do not plan to call the individual as a witness at trial.
In December, the judge declared a mistrial after a jury deadlocked in the case of William Porter, the first officer on trial in connection with the arrest and death of Gray. Once he was handcuffed and put in the van, Gray began to scream and kick so violently he shook the wagon, witnesses have said. Prosecutors say Goodson was ultimately responsible for Gray’s well-being.
“I commend him for being a credit to his bench because there was all kinds of pressure, enormous pressure, for him to go in the other direction”, he said, “and he showed tremendous courage in ruling against public opinion”. Being charged with murder, he faces the most serious counts of all the officers involved.
Goodson’s field training officer Dennis Smith testified that he never taught Goodson how to seat belt combative prisoners. Graham said Gray had faked an injury and caused a scene during his arrest, and officers were wary of getting too close to him inside the cramped quarters of the van.
Gray’s death sparked Black Lives Matter protests, some of which grew violent. The trial is expected to focus on medical evidence and department procedures.
Officer Garrett E. Miller, Lt. Brian W. Rice and Sgt. Alicia D. White are all awaiting trial. His injuries (right) lead to his death on April 19 at a Baltimore hospital.
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“Goodson has chosen to be tried by a judge instead of a jury”, NPR’s Jennifer Ludden reports on Morning Edition.
