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Judge questions Freddie Gray 'rough ride' theory; Query a concern for prosecutors of Baltimore...
The Washington Times ^ | June 20, 2016 | Ryan M. McDermott

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 ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events; US: Maryland
KEYWORDS: baltimore; freddiegray; judgewilliams; marilynmosby; officergoodson
Verdict due by 10 a.m. Thursday.
1 posted on 06/21/2016 10:59:41 AM PDT by jazusamo
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To: jazusamo

Ruh Roh. Will we go 3 for 3? I certainly hope so.


2 posted on 06/21/2016 11:01:08 AM PDT by rktman (Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?!)
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To: rktman

I hope so too, it looks promising.


3 posted on 06/21/2016 11:03:35 AM PDT by jazusamo (Have YOU Donated to Free Republic? https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: jazusamo
Officer Goodson was always BLM collateral damage, anyway, and not their typical white bulls eye target.
4 posted on 06/21/2016 11:03:50 AM PDT by lacrew
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To: jazusamo

“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.”

Good for Judge Williams.

.


5 posted on 06/21/2016 11:05:45 AM PDT by Mears (Afrocentrism is "the invention of tradition"-----Hobsbawm)
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To: jazusamo

Though kind’a cute, Mosby is totally retarded. And run by ValJar. It’s sick.


6 posted on 06/21/2016 11:06:02 AM PDT by Paladin2 (auto spelchk? BWAhaha2haaa.....I aint't likely fixin' nuttin'. Blame it on the Bossa Nova...)
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To: Paladin2

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.


7 posted on 06/21/2016 11:12:01 AM PDT by jazusamo (Have YOU Donated to Free Republic? https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: jazusamo

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.


8 posted on 06/21/2016 11:15:47 AM PDT by CivilWarBrewing (Females DESTROYED America.)
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To: CivilWarBrewing

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.


9 posted on 06/21/2016 11:22:37 AM PDT by jazusamo (Have YOU Donated to Free Republic? https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: CivilWarBrewing

I think he jumped ofer a low wall that had quite a drop on the other side?


10 posted on 06/21/2016 11:27:59 AM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra (Don't touch that thing Don't let anybody touch that thing!I'm a Doctor and I won't touch that thing!)
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To: jazusamo

I do believe the judge is peeved with the prosecutors


11 posted on 06/21/2016 11:39:45 AM PDT by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
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To: jazusamo
It is what it is, and the cops said Gray had a history of faking injuries which would lessen the likelihood of them taking REAL injuries seriously.

Also, didn't a passenger in that van say he heard Gray thrashing around in the van?

12 posted on 06/21/2016 11:54:24 AM PDT by CivilWarBrewing (Females DESTROYED America.)
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To: jazusamo

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.

*********************************************

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.


13 posted on 06/21/2016 11:56:26 AM PDT by Qiviut (In Islam you have to die for Allah. The God I worship died for me. [Franklin Graham])
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To: Qiviut

Thanks for posting that, the judge was not pleased over that fiasco.


14 posted on 06/21/2016 12:08:06 PM PDT by jazusamo (Have YOU Donated to Free Republic? https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: lacrew

Classic picture of a white racist, isn’t it.


15 posted on 06/21/2016 12:08:27 PM PDT by PAR35
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To: jazusamo

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.


16 posted on 06/21/2016 1:02:47 PM PDT by Qiviut (In Islam you have to die for Allah. The God I worship died for me. [Franklin Graham])
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To: Mears
"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, "

Even the witness identifies a rough ride as taking sharp turns.

17 posted on 06/21/2016 1:21:49 PM PDT by UCANSEE2 (Lost my tagline on Flight MH370. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
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To: jazusamo

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.


18 posted on 06/21/2016 2:30:58 PM PDT by cyclotic (Guns don't kill people. Abortion clinics kill people)
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To: jazusamo

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.


19 posted on 06/21/2016 2:38:50 PM PDT by cyclotic (Guns don't kill people. Abortion clinics kill people)
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To: cyclotic

Well said, from what I’ve read in the past Judge Williams is not at all impressed by these prosecutors.


20 posted on 06/21/2016 3:00:17 PM PDT by jazusamo (Have YOU Donated to Free Republic? https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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