Posted on 06/21/2016 10:59:40 AM PDT by jazusamo
BALTIMORE — A Baltimore judge on Monday questioned prosecutors’ theory that a police officer charged with murder in the death of Freddie Gray intentionally gave him a “rough ride” in a police van that caused the 25-year-old black man’s mortal injuries more than a year ago.
Prosecutors had used the phrase “rough ride” in their opening arguments of Officer Caesar Goodson’s trial earlier this month, but Deputy State’s Attorney Janice Bledsoe did not utter the term during closing arguments Monday.
Baltimore Circuit Judge Barry Williams grilled Chief Deputy State’s Attorney Michael Schatzow to clarify how he thought Officer Goodson had driven the van to toss Gray around in the back, causing his death.
Mr. Schatzow noted that Officer Goodson did not use a seat belt to secure Gray in the back of the van, and made a wide turn before the van’s third stop. He also pointed out that Officer William Porter, who also faces charges in the Gray case, testified that he told Officer Goodson that Gray had asked for medical attention. The prosecutor said it was logical to infer that Gray was tossed around intentionally.
Yet Judge Williams expressed skepticism about a surveillance video presented by prosecutors that showed Officer Goodson running a stop sign and making a wide turn before the van’s fourth stop. The judge said the van could have stopped at the sign beyond the view of the camera and noted that the van wasn’t traveling very fast.
Judge Williams said that Officer Goodson making a slow wide turn may have been safer for Gray than taking a turn sharply at a normal rate of speed.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Ruh Roh. Will we go 3 for 3? I certainly hope so.
I hope so too, it looks promising.
“Judge Williams said that Officer Goodson making a slow wide turn may have been safer for Gray than taking a turn sharply at a normal rate of speed.”
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Good for Judge Williams.
.
Though kind’a cute, Mosby is totally retarded. And run by ValJar. It’s sick.
Agree, Mosby has aspirations of higher office and jumped on this case like a duck on a June bug, hopefully she goes down with the cases.
From what I saw in the video of Gray, he had some sort of painful issue where his neck was on the brink before he even got into the van. When he ran from the cops he probably did it to himself.
That’s exactly my thought on it too. He didn’t look right when the two officers more less drug him to the van although he was upright.
I think he jumped ofer a low wall that had quite a drop on the other side?
I do believe the judge is peeved with the prosecutors
Also, didn't a passenger in that van say he heard Gray thrashing around in the van?
Prosecutors had used the phrase “rough ride” in their opening arguments of Officer Caesar Goodson’s trial earlier this month, but Deputy State’s Attorney Janice Bledsoe did not utter the term during closing arguments Monday.
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The prosecutor mentioned “rough ride” in his opening remarks - this is why the ‘rough ride’ wasn’t mentioned in closing arguments by the prosecution & likely why the judge is asking questions:
Freddie Gray trial: expert witness crumbles in van driver’s prosecution
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jun/16/freddie-gray-trial-caesar-goodson-rough-ride-prosecution
Witness Stanford O’Neill Franklin, a former police commander, was called to support the prosecution’s theory that Gray suffered what is known as a “rough ride”, a practice in which a driver jolts and takes sharp turns, jostling a prisoner who is handcuffed and shackled without a seatbelt.
But when asked by defense attorney Matthew Fraling whether he saw any evidence of Goodson’s erratic driving, he couldn’t say.
Asked if, in reviewing footage of the van’s stops, he saw evidence of unexpected starts, stops, or turns, Franklin answered: “I did not.”
“It’s not your contention that Officer Goodson in any way engaged in a rough ride?” Fraling asked.
“I can’t say for sure,” Franklin responded.
On redirect, assistant deputy state’s attorney Michael Schatzow did not ask any further questions about the rough ride before resting his case.
Thanks for posting that, the judge was not pleased over that fiasco.
Classic picture of a white racist, isn’t it.
Sounds like the prosecution’s “star” witness kicked the door wide open to “reasonable doubt”. Very telling IMO that the prosecutors dropped his testimony like a hot potato - no redirect, no mention in closing arguments.
Even the witness identifies a rough ride as taking sharp turns.
I just realized I need to pick up a client a few blocks from the courthouse on Thursday morning. I think I’ll arrange to be an hour or two early.
I followed the trial pretty closely on Legal Insurrection and some reporters on Twitter.
What a clown show. Judge Williams must have been biting his lip half the time to keep from telling Mosby’s morons to give up and go home.
Star witness for the prosecution sows massive reasonable doubt. He said he’s never seen a rough ride only heard about them being done years ago.
One of the officers who testifies is an acquaintance of mine. It didn’t seem as if he helped the State either.
Thursday should be fun. Time for stores to stock up on work boots and job applications.
Well said, from what I’ve read in the past Judge Williams is not at all impressed by these prosecutors.
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