Trial of First Officer of the Baltimore 6 Continues

Dec 9

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freddie-gray-arrest-video.pngYesterday, the prosecution rested. The defense moved for dismissal and Judge Barry G. Williams denied their motion. The defense puts on its case starting today.

William Porter is charged with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office.  He is the first of 6 Baltimore police officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray. Porter’s attorneys have stated that he will testify, although that can change.

Tuesday morning, jurors heard from an expert of police procedures who said officers have an obligation to seat-belt arrestees and get them quick medical attention. Dr. Michael Lyman, a professor of criminal justice at Columbia College in Missouri, testified for the prosecution that police officers who arrest a suspect have a “shared responsibility” to make sure that person is secured in the back of a police transport wagon. If the person complains of injuries, officers should immediately determine where the nearest hospital is and take the arrestee there.

Also on Tuesday, a crime scene technician, a crime lab serologist and a DNA expert each testified about their role in collecting and analyzing Freddie’s blood found in the back of the transport wagon.

Crime lab technician Thomas Wisner testified about his role in taking suspected blood samples and a seat belt from the police van that transported Freddie Gray following his arrest. Serologist Virginia Cates said stains on the van’s walls and seat belt tested positive for blood, which DNA analyst Thomas Herbert said matched that of Freddie.

We shall continue following the trial and post updates in the comment section below. The trial is not livestreamed, and reporters are not allowed to have electronic devices in the courtroom. Therefore, we are following the news mostly on Twitter and with news reports at the end of the court day.

Feel free to join-in.

 

 

Posted on 12/09/2015, in Cases, Cops Gone Wild, Freddy Gray and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink. 41 Comments.

  1. Mr. Militant Negro | 12/09/2015 at 2:32 am

    Reblogged this on The Militant Negro™.

    Liked by 2 people

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  2. Xena | 12/09/2015 at 2:38 am

    Here’s a summary of trial thus far and review of the rules and practices of seat belts.

    Liked by 1 person

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  3. Xena | 12/09/2015 at 1:10 pm

    Porter has taken the stand and is not undergoing croos-examination.

    Porter said that he knew Gray “from the neighborhood” and had run-ins with him prior to the day in question.

    “Sometimes he would actively resist [arrest], he would usually act out and yell and fake some type of injury,” Porter said.

    Porter said that the reason he didn’t call for medical assistance was because “after talking to Mr. Gray, he was unable to give me any reason to.” Porter added that “medics usually take a while” to arrive.

    “He never made a complaint of an injury,” Porter said.

    “He did not appear to be in any pain he looked tired, lethargic,” he said.

    When he saw that Gray was unconscious in the back of the police van when it made its final stop, Porter testified that he saw that Gray was “unconscious.”

    “It was a very traumatic thing for me also,” Porter said.

    The other detainee who was in the van with Gray is expected to take the stand Friday.

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  4. Xena | 12/09/2015 at 1:24 pm

    This morning, the defense called Dr. Vincent DiMaio. I remember that name from the George Zimmerman trial.

    Liked by 3 people

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  5. Xena | 12/09/2015 at 1:58 pm

    Liked by 2 people

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  7. yahtzeebutterfly | 12/09/2015 at 8:44 pm

    This link has details of testimony today.

    http://news10.com/2015/12/09/baltimore-officer-grilled-during-cross-examination/

    Of interest is this entry:

    5:20 p.m.

    A police officer who was involved in Freddie Gray’s arrest and met the transport van carrying Gray at the Western District station house is testifying at a colleague’s manslaughter trial.

    Zachary Novak said Wednesday that he helped two other officers put Gray in the transport van after he was arrested outside the Gilmor Homes, and that Gray wasn’t using his legs because “he didn’t want to cooperate.”

    Novak’s testimony came in the trial of Officer William Porter, one of six officers charged in Gray’s death.

    Liked by 2 people

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    • yahtzeebutterfly | 12/09/2015 at 9:02 pm

      I decided to go back to watching the arrest videos. Here is one of them:

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    • Xena | 12/09/2015 at 9:06 pm

      The testimony that Gray wasn’t using his legs because he didn’t want to cooperate agrees with the prosecution’s position. This was a defense witness? Geez.

      Liked by 1 person

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      • mindyme62 | 12/10/2015 at 2:53 pm

        To me it looks like he can’t use his legs and is in pain.

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        • Bill Taylor | 12/10/2015 at 4:08 pm

          the video shows his legs splayed in a way that would be very difficult for him to place them in……one leg did look broken when they first lifted him not being cooperative would be his legs just dragging along behind him, NOT the way his legs were are distorted as if NOT being moved by his muscle commands but rather not able to move and going where whatever force applied put them……

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  8. yahtzeebutterfly | 12/09/2015 at 9:23 pm

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  9. yahtzeebutterfly | 12/09/2015 at 9:56 pm

    WBAL news recap video from today can be found at this link:

    http://www.wbaltv.com/news/defense-expert-freddie-grays-death-was-an-accident/36874764

    Liked by 1 person

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  10. yahtzeebutterfly | 12/10/2015 at 10:10 am

    Here are two reporters’ links that will help you keep up with the trial:

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    • Bill Taylor | 12/10/2015 at 10:50 am

      TY for the links, not a doctor nor expert but it seems to me the injury did not have to happen all at once, Gray clearly had some type of injury before he was put in the van, it could have been a neck injury that was made much worse with the repeated handling of him with no support for his head……seems there could have been a small tear made much worse over time as opposed to one sudden severe injury…….

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  11. yahtzeebutterfly | 12/10/2015 at 1:34 pm

    These two articles provide info on today’s court proceedings:

    “In William Porter trial, experts disagree on when Freddie Gray injured”
    http://www.kpax.com/story/30717419/in-william-porter-trial-experts-disagree-on-when-freddie-gray-injured

    “Former Baltimore police commander: Porter acted reasonably in handling Freddie Gray”
    http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/freddie-gray/bs-md-porter-trial-thursday-20151210-story.html

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  12. Xena | 12/10/2015 at 1:40 pm

    12/10/2015 Afternoon update; Re; ABC News

    The Charlottesville, Virginia, police chief and a 35-year veteran of law enforcement has testified that Officer William Porter did almost all he could do on the day Freddie Gray was arrested and injured in Baltimore.

    Chief Timothy Longo was the defense’s fifth witness is the trial of Porter. He was asked by a defense attorney whether there was any more Porter could have done and he said no.

    But on rapid-fire cross-examination by a prosecutor, Longo said he supposes the officer could have gotten on the radio and called for a medic.

    Longo also said van driver Caesar Goodson was ultimately responsible to make sure Gray was belted in because Gray was in his custody.

    Matthew Ammerman, a neurosurgeon from Washington, DC testified for the defense that Freddie Gray’s broken neck could would have immediately paralyzed Gray’s ability to breathe, speak and use his limbs. The defense is attempting to determine at what point Freddie was injured to relieve Porter from accountability at the times that he spoke with Freddie.

    Liked by 1 person

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  13. mindyme62 | 12/10/2015 at 2:56 pm

    The cop in OK accused of raping 13 women of color, the jury is in their 4th day of deliberations. This can’t be good.

    http://www.koco.com/news/jury-entering-4th-day-of-deliberations-in-rape-trial-against-former-okc-cop/36891850

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    • Xena | 12/10/2015 at 7:13 pm

      Mindyme,
      I read about the trial in passing. Holzclaw was charged with 36 felonies. His jury does not reflect that demographics of the community since the jury is all White. It might take the jury 36 days to decide on each count. I plan on blogging about it when a verdict has been reached.

      Liked by 1 person

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    • Bill Taylor | 12/10/2015 at 3:46 pm

      this stuff of having “experts” give the opinion they are PAID to come up with is a real problem in our judicial system…….has the defense ever had a PAID witness conclude their client is guilty? of course not, the “expert” knows the defense is paying them and they will ALWAYS have findings that support the defense.

      Liked by 1 person

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  15. Xena | 12/10/2015 at 5:14 pm

    A person handcuffed and legs shackled cannot disarm an officer in the van.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • mindyme62 | 12/11/2015 at 9:00 am

      😦 omg. Freddie couldn’t talk to tell Porter what he needed help with.

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      • Xena | 12/11/2015 at 3:40 pm

        It’s horrible, isn’t it? Remember the man who police ordered to get out of his car, and they tazed him and then discovered that he could not obey them because he was having a stroke? The assumptions can cost human lives.

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  16. yahtzeebutterfly | 12/11/2015 at 9:28 am

    “Defense Could Wrap Up Case Today At Porter Trial”

    http://www.wbal.com/article/129479/2/defense-could-wrap-up-case-today-at-porter-trial

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    • Bill Taylor | 12/11/2015 at 10:26 am

      the system amazes me, the other passenger in the van clearly has said he NEVER told police Freddie was hurting himself, but the official story is he is recanting “what he told police”…the point is the police tell a huge LIE, the person says i never said that but the story becomes he is changing his story now………

      Liked by 1 person

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  17. yahtzeebutterfly | 12/11/2015 at 11:47 am

    Happening now:

    “Live stream: Daniel Holtzclaw victims, attorneys speak to media at Oklahoma County Courthouse”
    http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/state/live-stream-daniel-holtzclaw-victims-attorneys-speak-to-media-at/article_76a20f01-959c-5f66-b43d-74623d70c5d1.html

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  18. yahtzeebutterfly | 12/11/2015 at 3:22 pm

    “Defense rests in William Porter trial Friday afternoon, jury sent home”

    http://www.mynews4.com/news/story/Defense-rests-in-William-Porter-trial-Friday/Fr2wOM7GlEGjcMTf3TkJTg.cspx

    Excerpt from article linked below:

    Before resting its case, a mix of character witnesses, including Porter’s mother, and a police policy expert testified.

    Porter’s mother, Helena Porter, called her son a nice, honest guy.

    “He likes to keep the peace. He’s a peacemaker in any situation that goes down,” Helena Porter said of her son.

    The defense also called other character witnesses Friday. Renea Sumerville, a Howard County corrections employee and a longtime friend of William Porter, said he is like a grandson to her. She called him very honest, an outstanding member of the community, a giver and someone with a great heart.

    Angela Gibson, a friend and former college classmate of Porter, said Porter is very honest and truthful because he cares about people.

    Another William Porter friend, Devon Scott, said the officer is a truthful and peaceful person.

    Prosecutors countered the character witnesses by pointing out that none saw William Porter when he was working.

    http://www.wbaltv.com/news/porters-mother-takes-stand-in-officers-trial/36913202

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    • Bill Taylor | 12/11/2015 at 3:32 pm

      the defense didnt call Allen to testify because they knew what he would say, that the police LIED from day one…….they lied on their official reports about the number of stops that is 100% fact, and should tell the jury the officers cant be trusted…….

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    • Xena | 12/11/2015 at 3:35 pm

      Thanks for the update. I read where the attorneys were haggling over jury instructions. Closing arguments are scheduled for Monday morning. I would love seeing the closing arguments. At this point based on what has been released to the public about the trial, I think that Porter will be found guilty of reckless endangerment — not sure of the other charges.

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      • yahtzeebutterfly | 12/11/2015 at 10:05 pm

        I feel that Porter’s not getting Freddie medical help and allowing Freddie’s medical condition to continue to be exacerbated by the continued van ride makes him guilty of manslaughter.

        The van ride was torturous for Freddie with the condition he was in…equivalent to a torture chamber…equivalent to waterboarding someone too long and causing him to drown.

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  19. yahtzeebutterfly | 12/14/2015 at 1:54 pm

    “Closing arguments complete in Porter trial, jury deliberations next”

    http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/freddie-gray/bs-md-porter-trial-closing-monday-20151214-story.html

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