Summary: The first hearings in the Freddie Gray case have established that charges will proceed against the officers involved, and that Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby will stay on the case.
According to NPR, a Baltimore judge rejected a motion that would have dismissed charges against six police officers who are accused of being involved in the death of Freddie Gray, who died while in police custody. Gray, 25, suffered fatal injuries as he was being transported while in the custody of Caesar R. Goodson Jr., Garrett E. Miller, Edward M. Nero, William G. Porter, Brian W. Rice, and Alicia D. White.
The judge also tossed out a motion that argued Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby should be kicked out of the case. According to CNN, defense attorneys argued that Mosby’s office issued orders for the police to increase their presence in the area where Gray was initially arrested.
Wednesday was the first day of court hearings in the case involving Gray’s death. Protests and unrest were reported throughout the city, including at the courthouse where the hearings were heard.
A law school has actually created a “Freddie Gray” course.
Some protestors blocked a street, and a helicopter hovering overhead ordered the group to break it up. One protestor was arrested. Police reportedly put a taser on one protestor’s back, but it was not clear if it was deployed. The protester was taken into a police van, and was later moved into an ambulance.
As for the charges against the officers, the driver has been charged with second degree murder. Three officers face manslaughter charges, and two others have received lesser charges.
Read about the indictment of the officers here.
Dozens of issues remain in the case. It has not yet been determined whether the officers will stand trial together in October, or whether they will each have their own individual trials. The Baltimore Sun adds that prosecutors have previously stated they would like to try Nero, Miller, Goodson, and White together in one trial, and try Rice and Porter together in a separate trial. Venue for the trial has also not been finalized, as some feel the trial should take place outside of Baltimore.
Sharon Black of the Baltimore People’s Power Assembly commented, “Our message is pretty obvious. Do not drop the charges. No change in venue. Do not recuse Marilyn Mosby.”
Mosby gained national attention after she stated that officers would face charges.
In May, at the prodding of Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, the Department of Justice launched a civil rights investigation into the Baltimore Police Department.
Read about the investigation here.
Source: NPR
Photo credit: phillymag.com, thedailyrecord.com (Mosby)