Caption + Democratic presidential candidate, Sen.
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During the tour, Sanders stopped to look at a large mural of Gray as he was led through the neighborhood by the Rev. Jamal Bryant of the city’s Empowerment Temple AME Church.
“Anyone who took the walk that we took around this neighborhood would not think you’re in a wealthy nation”, Sanders said.
Prosecutors argue that Gray suffered a fatal spinal cord injury while in police custody, due to- and possibly worsened by- a lack of proper restraints. The State’s Attorney’s Office eventually cleared the officers, the Baltimore Sun reported at the time.
Prosecutors have painted Porter as an indifferent officer who didn’t call for a medic despite Gray’s indication he needed help, and whose failure to buckle Gray into a seatbelt amounted to criminal negligence. He also said he couldn’t find a single case where failing to seat belt resulted in the reckless disregard of human life, which is one of the charges Porter faces. Referencing the phone conversation, which was not tape recorded, is the only attempt prosecutors made to substantiate the claim that Gray told Porter he couldn’t breathe.
Another witness, Michael Lyman, a criminal justice professor and police trainer from Missouri’s Columbia College, said Gray should have been taken to the hospital when he asked for medical aid.
Over defense objections on Tuesday, the state called former police officer Dr. Michael Lyman, as an expert witness on police procedures.
The prosecutors leading the effort to hold six Baltimore police officers accountable in the death of Freddie Gray are seasoned lawyers who spent significant portions of their careers on the other side of the aisle. Porter was present at several stops. He added that every police officer – not just officers who are doing the transporting – has a duty to make sure detainees are safe.
Demonstrator Arthur Johnson carries a sign advocating justice for Freddie Gray on Monday, Dec. 7, 2015, outside the courthouse in Baltimore where the trial of Offcer William Porter enters its second week.
Defense attorneys objected to Lyman being admitted as an expert witness, with attorney Joe Murtha pointing out that Lyman had not worked as a police officer since 1986, and never as a patrol officer.
Lyman testified that Baltimore Police policies requiring detainees to be put in a seatbelt while being transported are consistent with other departments nationally.
The death of the 25-year-old man triggered rioting and arson in the largely black city and intensified a USA debate on the use of excessive force by police against minorities.
Thomas Hebert (HEE’-bert) testified Tuesday at the manslaughter trial of Officer William Porter.
The jury heard from 15 witnesses over the first five days of the trial. Gray then was found unconscious and not breathing. After Gray’s funeral in late April, there were riots in parts of Baltimore, drawing the National Guard to help quell the unrest. He could face about 25 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
Porter, 26, is the first of six officers to be tried in Gray’s death. The trial began last week.
A NY artist is putting a moving billboard on the streets of Baltimore to protest excessive police violence.
Wisner said he processed the van on April 20 – a day after Gray’s death and eight after he was arrested and injured.
D’antuono’s message: “It stops with cops”. He had been in the back of the van for 45 minutes, handcuffed and shackled for most of the ride, and the defense sought to shift blame to Goodson. The Porter case is expected to end by December 17.
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On Tuesday, Schatzow, 66, and, Bledsoe, 52, rested their case against Porter, who is charged with involuntary manslaughter. They’ve suggested Gray’s back was weakened by a previous injury.
