Not so strange if a jury is allowed to consider lesser charges. If not, then she’s done them a favor in the long run as without direct and corroborating testimony, they’ll never find them guilty of first degree murder — or whatever the top murder charge is in Maryland.
I’m surprised nobody mentioned the DA’s screw up: “they illegally arrested Mr. Gray”. I don’t think there is such a crime.
There is no "crime" of illegal arrest but there is the fourth amendment.
Here is a list of the charges”
Officer Caesar Goodson Jr., 45, who was the driver of a police van that carried Gray through the streets of Baltimore, was charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter, second-degree assault, two vehicular manslaughter charges and misconduct in office. A man who answered the phone at Goodson’s home declined to comment and hung up the phone.
Officer William Porter, 25, was charged with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault and misconduct in office.
Lt. Brian Rice, 41, was charged with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault and misconduct in office.
Sgt. Alicia White, 30, was charged with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault and misconduct in office.
Officer Edward Nero, 29, was charged with second-degree assault and misconduct in office.
Officer Garrett Miller, 26, was charged with second-degree assault, misconduct in office and false imprisonment.
Looks like the highest charge is 2nd degree murder on the driver of the van.
I suppose the false imprisonment charge is related to the arrest based upon the pocket knife, which appears to me to be a mistaken arrest.
I am curious if every policeman who arrests a person on charge that later does not hold up for whatever reason is charged with false imprisonment.