The Latest: Trial for police van driver begins Thursday
BALTIMORE (AP) – The Latest on the trial of a police van driver in the death of a young, black man in Baltimore (all times local):
10:20 a.m.
The trial for a Baltimore police officer charged with the most serious crime stemming from the death of a 25-year-old man whose neck was broken in the back of a police van will begin Thursday.
Caesar Goodson, who was driving the transport wagon and faces second-degree murder, manslaughter and other charges, chose a judge trial at a motions hearing Monday.
Baltimore Circuit Judge Barry Williams on Monday also granted a defense motion to prevent Syreeta Teel, an investigator who interviewed another officer charged in the case and testified as his trial, from being called as a state’s witness.
Gray died April 19 of last year. His death prompted protests and rioting in Baltimore, and his name became a rallying cry in the national conversation about the treatment of black men by police officers in America.
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10:10 a.m.
A Baltimore police officer charged with the most serious crime stemming from the death of a 25-year-old black man whose neck was broken in the back of a van has opted for a judge trial.
Officer Caesar Goodson faces second-degree murder, manslaughter, assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office charges stemming from Freddie Gray’s death. Gray died April 19, 2015, a week after he was injured in the back of the van. Prosecutors say Goodson was grossly negligent when he failed to buckle Gray into a seat belt and call a medic for help.
The 46-year-old Goodson waived his right to a jury trial on Monday.
Six officers were charged in Gray’s arrest and death. Officer Edward Nero, who also chose a bench trial, was acquitted last month.
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9:20 a.m.
A Baltimore judge will hear motions from the defense in the upcoming trial for an officer facing the most serious charge stemming from the death of a young black man from injuries he received in a police van.
Circuit Judge Barry Williams will hold a motions hearing Monday in the trial for Officer Caesar Goodson, who faces second-degree murder, manslaughter, assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment charges stemming from Freddie Gray’s death.
The 25-year-old Gray died last year, a week after his neck was broken in the van Goodson was driving. Prosecutors say he failed in his duty by not buckling Gray into a seat belt.
Goodson is asking Williams to suppress statements made by another officer to an investigator, as well as portions of Gray’s autopsy report.
