Judge Declares Mistrial in Case Over Freddie Gray's Death | Sojourners

Judge Declares Mistrial in Case Over Freddie Gray's Death

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After the jury could not come to a decision, Judge Barry G. Williams declared a mistrial in the case of William G. Porter, first of the six Baltimore police officers who will stand trial in the death of Freddie Gray, reports The Baltimore Sun.

After Freddie Gray died of a broken neck and spinal cord injury while in police custody, Baltimore lead prosecutor Marilyn J. Mosby ruled the death a homicide. Furthermore, the knife that got Gray arrested turned out to be legal.

According to The Baltimore Sun:

Jurors began deliberations on Monday afternoon. On Tuesday afternoon, the panel informed the judge it was deadlocked, and Williams ordered them to continue deliberating.

The panel, made up of seven women and five men, resumed deliberations Wednesday morning.

In Porter's trial, the prosecution brought medical experts, policing experts and other witnesses to show that Porter was criminally negligent when he failed to secure Gray in a seat belt in the van or call for a medic when Gray requested one.

The defense brought similar experts, as well as other Baltimore police officers, to show that Porter acted as a "reasonable officer" in his interactions with Gray and that Gray's injury was the result of an accident that Porter could not have prevented.

Read the full article here.