A judge is expected to decide today when the first of six Baltimore officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray, a black man who died after suffering injuries in police custody, will go to trial.
Judge Barry Williams has called a scheduling conference Tuesday afternoon to determine when and in what order the officers, who face charges ranging from second-degree assault to second-degree “depraved-heart” murder, will be tried.
Williams ruled earlier this month that each officer will get his or her own trial. The state indicated in a letter sent to the judge that they want between three and five days to present their case against each officer, and intend to call at least one officer to testify against the others.
Gray died April 19, a week after he was injured. His death inspired protests and rioting in Baltimore, and came to symbolize the treatment of black men by police in America, and shed light on long-standing and systemic disenfranchisement of African American populations in the city.
Attorneys for the six officers asked Williams to move the trials outside of Baltimore, citing pre-trial media coverage they say could prejudice a jury. Williams ruled to keep the trials in Baltimore, but kept the door open to re-evaluate his decision should the state and defense run into problems seating a jury.
The first trial is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 13, however Williams will likely push back that date Tuesday. It is unclear whether Williams will schedule all the trials, or set the date only for the first one.
Prosecutors have asked to try Officer William Porter, who is charged with manslaughter, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office charges, first, and suggested in a letter to the judge that the state intends to call Porter to testify against Sgt. Alicia White, who faces identical charges, and Officer Caesar Goodson, who faces an additional “depraved-heart” murder charge. Officers Garrett Miller and Edward Nero face misdemeanor assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment charges, as does Lt. Brian Rice, who also faces a manslaughter charge.
The Associated Press contributed to this article
Freddy Grey was a known drug pusher in that part of town. he had been picked in the past several times for drug crimes and even served a two-year sentence. Freddy Grey is someone the neighborhood is better without. The idiots rioted over a black drug pusher; because, we happen to have a black president, who has a history of violating the constitution thinking he is above the laws and the constitution that made this country great. Obama sets a bad example leading other blacks to think they can get away with anything too. Obama also stuck his nose in the situation which he should not of done causing more problems. This makes law-abiding and all inner city blacks look bad. The rioters really did not care about Freddy Grey just how much they can loot, burn and steal without getting caught. The inner city murder rate has skyrocketed since the Freddy Grey incident. Hopefully Obama will get caught and removed from office, this would help the situation.