The Maryland Court of Appeals, the highest court in the state, has now postponed the trials of five Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers implicated in the death of Freddie Gray while it decides whether the sixth officer implicated can be compelled to testify against them. The decision came Thursday, four days before the next trial was scheduled to start.
The Gray case became wrapped up in appeals following the mistrial of Officer William Porter in December. Prosecutors had planned to use Porter as a witness against Sergeant Alicia White and Officer Caesar Goodson, Jr., the driver of the van that transported Gray to the Western District Police Station, and purposefully tried him first, so he could testify without fear of self-incrimination.
After his mistrial, Porter pleaded the Fifth Amendment to avoid incriminating himself in testimony against Goodson, whose trial was scheduled to start Jan. 6.
Prosecutors motioned for Porter to be compelled to testify with limited immunity, which Circuit Court Judge Barry Williams granted. Porter’s attorneys then turned to the Maryland Court of Special Appeals, which chose to postpone Goodson’s trial in order to make a decision.
Williams postponed White’s trial, which was scheduled to start Jan. 25, in response.
Prosecutors also motioned for Porter to be compelled to testify against Lieutenant Brian Rice and Officers Edward Nero and Garrett Miller. Circuit Court Judge Williams denied that motion, stating that he believed the prosecution was simply trying to delay the trials.
Prosecutors subsequently turned to the Court of Appeals, which has now delayed the trials while it makes a decision.
Oral arguments in the appeals case are scheduled to begin March 3.
Gray, 25, died of a severe spinal cord injury in April, one week after being arrested by BPD officers. His death sparked over a week of both peaceful and violent protesting.
Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The News-Letter.