Posted on 07/18/2016 9:28:33 AM PDT by Strac6
A judge in Baltimore Monday acquitted the highest-ranking officer charged in the death of Freddie Gray, marking the fourth trial that prosecutors failed to win.
Lt. Brian Rice faced charges of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office. He opted for a bench trial by Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Barry Williams.
The judge previously dismissed a second-degree assault charge, and prosecutors dropped a second misconduct charge against the 42-year-old officer, who is white.
Gray died a week after suffering a spinal injury in a police van last year, touching off protests and rioting.
Rice's failure to seatbelt Gray, Williams said, may have been an error in judgment and a violation of updated policy -- but the judge found prosecutors failed to prove it rose to a criminal level.
"The state failed to show that the defendant, even if he was aware of the risk, consciously disregarded that risk," the judge said.
Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby vowed to bring justice to an aggrieved citizenry when she announced the charges last year. But she has yet to find success in court, and is being sued for defamation by five of the officers.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
0 for 4 so far, two more to go. Then it will be 0 for 6.
Not helping the batting average much.
This is a little different. For many years, the common police practice was to not buckle in prisoners, in Baltimore. Then apparently a few weeks before the incident, the policy changed. The officers must have either missed the memo, or chose to ignore it...but seeing that this was a common practice for years, a reasonable person would not expect a lack of buckling to likely cause death. That’s why its not criminal. I’m sure the lawsuits are flying, but its not murder.
No Justice, No Peace!
Pray America wakes
There's something to be said for consistency, though...
MD B’more ping.....
Williams said, may have been an error in judgment and a violation of updated policy but the judge found prosecutors failed to prove it rose to a criminal level.
Where have we heard this before?
____________
You are comparing apples and pomegranates. The judge was correct, the proof adduced at trial fell woefully short of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Comey was wrong because his job was to determine if enough evidence existed to indict and prosecute—it did, without doubt. Comey tanked, the judge in the officer’s case did his job appropriately.
Good prosecutors don’t lose this many cases in a career. Mosby lost this many in a row.
I must say, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by this Judge.
He has applied the law evenly and proved to the world that Mosby had no absolutely no case to begin with.
Now, where do these officers get their reputation back?
I bet she has her indi'nan' (indignant) face on this morning :D
I betcha that Marilyn Mosby couldnt even indict a ham sandwich.
________
She indicted 6 officers, wrongly and without sufficient evidence to have a reasonable expectation of obtaining convictions.
Maryland “Freak State” PING!
2016 Poster Girl:
"Most Incompetent, Overeducated, Affirmative Action State's Attorney"
Take THAT, BLM!........................................
I don’t put any political or otherwise stickers on my cars.Whack-jobs do stupid stuff. Not even sports logos are safe anymore...............
Actually, she hasn’t tried a single one of these cases. Instead, she’s had Bledsoe and Schatzow do the dirty work. I wonder if she’ll one day claim that these white prosecutors threw the cases or something.
Dang it, I spit pieces of my ham sandwich all over the screen laughing!
How many more times do we have to watch this movie?
I stopped several years ago, that is how crazy this country has become. I like my life, my house, my car & my animals too much. Really pitiful that it’s come to this!
As an insurance lawyer, I’m sure she’s completely incapable of trying any case.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.