Posted on 06/23/2016 9:29:01 AM PDT by reaganaut1
BALTIMORE — The Baltimore police officer who drove the van in which Freddie Gray sustained a fatal spinal injury was acquitted on Thursday of second-degree murder and six lesser charges, leaving prosecutors still without a conviction after three high-profile trials in a case that has shaken this city.
In his ruling, Judge Barry G. Williams rejected the prosecution’s claim that the officer, Caesar R. Goodson Jr., had given Mr. Gray a “rough ride” in the van, intentionally putting him at risk for an injury by taking a wide turn while Mr. Gray was not secured with a seatbelt.
“The court finds there is insufficient evidence that the defendant gave or intended to give Mr. Gray a rough ride,” Judge Williams, said, adding that there had not been “evidence presented at this trial that the defendant intended for any crime to happen.”
Office Goodson sat very quietly watching the judge as the verdict was read. Afterward, he hugged his family and some of the other officers charged in the case.
The death of Mr. Gray, a 25-year-old black man, in April of last year spurred days of violent protests that prompted the governor to call in the National Guard and put the city at the center of a wrenching national debate over race and policing. The state’s attorney, Marilyn J. Mosby, stood on the steps of the city’s War Memorial and told residents that she would “deliver justice” on their behalf. Ms. Mosby then took the unusual step of charging six officers in Mr. Gray’s fatal arrest and death, reserving the steepest charge — second-degree “depraved heart” murder — for Officer Goodson, who is also black.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
There’ll be a hot time in the old town tonight.
Dumb, biased and incompetent prosecutors should be fired.
May 1, 2015 - “Freddie Gray’s stepfather said that the young man’s family is satisfied with the criminal charges announced today against six Baltimore police officers who took him into custody a week before he died.”
Good. Unfortunately, this won’t satisfy the communist front organization BLM.
Biased prosecutors should be imprisoned.
That’s what I wonder. Will there be a riot? Will authorities give protesters their space again, and allow a certain amount of rioting???
Time will tell.
Fired... ha.. she’ll be Governor inside of ten years.
Yup! Time for another “Rent-a-riot”.
That mobley woman is going to get her fat ass sued off. Two suits are already filed for defamation. I think civil rights were violated under color of state law. Bad!!! Shooting up 58% !!!
I am curious - why are these cases tried before a judge and not a jury? In Maryland is it at the Defendant’s request, or does it have to be by agreement? There is a Constitutional right to have a jury of your peers, but the first two “Freddie Gray” cases were before a magistrate. Defendant/Officers are now 2-0.
Oldplayer
“So now it’s two acquittals and one hung jury...is that correct? “
Yep, that fool states persecutor is 0-3. And the hung jury was 11-1 for acquittal. AND the “strongest” cases were persecuted first.
The defendants have the choice - trial by jury or trial by judge. They selected judge as they expected to get fair treatment from the judge and had less confidence in a cross section of Baltimore sitting on the jury.
I’d hate to be her husband waiting for her to come home from work at night. She be angry.
That must be a photoshop. She looks kinda pretty.
Welp. Time to go burn down my 7-11.
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