Officer William Porter trial: Freddie Gray case live coverage

Thanks for following our coverage of the trial of William Porter. We'll resume coverage on this live blog when new developments in the case occur.

A mistrial was declared Wednesday in the trial of Baltimore Police Officer William G. Porter, after jurors told Judge Barry G. Williams they could not reach a verdict on any of the four charges. Officer Porter is one of six Baltimore Police officers charged in the arrest and death of Freddie Gray. Updates from the courthouse are from Kevin Rector, Ian Duncan and Justin Fenton, unless otherwise noted.
Full coverage: Freddie Gray trials | Charges, timeline | Key people | Timeline | Newsletter

3rd & 7 37yd

Murtha: "The state is attempting to attack the credibility of Officer Porter" but "external facts" show he's telling the truth.

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 4:55:04 PM
Murtha says prosecution "overlooked" things, because there is an"absence of evidence." "The state is asking you to insert information"

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 4:48:42 PM
Murtha: Did Porter ever see the updated general order re seat belts? Why was there a delay from Gray's injury to first inspection of van?

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 4:47:21 PM
Murtha going through all the little individual doubts the defense raised in the state's case throughout the trial.

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 4:46:01 PM
Murtha says general orders are clear that they do not eliminate officer discretion.

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 4:36:40 PM
Murtha said prosecutors want jury to believe rule for officers is "You say medic, I say when and where, and that's just not how it works"

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 4:36:08 PM
Murtha stressing officer discretion, Porter's assessment of Gray and his not thinking Gray was seriously injured.

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 4:34:42 PM
Murtha says it is "sometimes hard to set aside our emotions," but jury took an oath to do that.

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 4:30:12 PM
Murtha starts defense closing. Says state must prove not just factors of #FreddieGray 's death, but that Porter was specifically responsible

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 4:29:24 PM
Porter's defense attorneys are up next. Will post when we have a break; also @RectorSun who's dipping in & out of overflow room

by Justin Fenton via twitter 12/14/2015 4:20:56 PM
Bledsoe to jury: The state is asking you to hold Porter "responsible for the oath that he took, for his job, and for being a human being."

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 4:13:44 PM
Bledsoe said whipping a horse causing someone to fall, and locking out roommate in cold, are akin to assault charges Porter faces

by Justin Fenton via twitter 12/14/2015 4:13:39 PM
Porter had "opportunity on 4 or 5 occasions to wield his power & save #FreddieGray . ..He abused his power. He failed his responsibilities"

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 4:11:51 PM
"He," Bledsoe closes, pointing at Porter, "abused his power. He failed his responsibility."

by Justin Fenton via twitter 12/14/2015 4:11:27 PM
Where we left things on Friday:
The defense called a series of character witnesses to the stand before resting on Friday. Here’s a glimpse at the testimony from people who know William Porter:
- Renea Somerville, an older woman who called Porter "Little Bill," said she considers him "like a grandson." Somerville, a Howard County Department of Corrections employee, said Porter is "very honest" and "an outstanding member of the community."
- Another friend, Devon Scott, said Porter — who he called "William" — is one of his best friends and an "upstanding gentleman" and a "peaceful person."
- Angela Gibson, another friend and a first-grade teacher, called Porter "Will" and said people like him are "very hard to come by." Porter, she said, is always "very truthful and honest" and "very peaceful."
Read more from Friday’s recap »

by Sean Welsh 12/14/2015 4:10:56 PM
Bledsoe: "With great power, comes great responsibility. You know who said that? Voltaire. And Spiderman."

by Justin Fenton via twitter 12/14/2015 4:10:07 PM
Bledsoe ended by focusing on Porter's responsibilities (and power) as a police officer.

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 4:09:37 PM
BREAKING: Prosecution has ended its closing. Brief recess before defense begins.

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 4:08:48 PM
"So let me tell you how Officer Porter disregards #FreddieGray 's life," Bledsoe says, before going through actions van stop by van stop.

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 4:05:23 PM
Bledsoe to jury: Easiest way to remember manslaughter is as combo of reckless endangerment, negligent assault and "disregard for human life"

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 4:04:17 PM
We're on short break called in middle of Bledsoe's closing. About to go back in.

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 3:51:51 PM
Bledsoe says Porter can't blame other officers. Police officers "don't live in a silo," have a "shared responsibility to each you."

by Justin Fenton via twitter 12/14/2015 3:51:41 PM
Prosecution using tape of Porter statement, witness videoes, but also tape of Porter from his testimony in this trial.

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 3:51:15 PM
Prosecutor: "When Officer Porter failed to call for a medic, when that van door closed, that wagon became (Gray's) casket on wheels."

by Justin Fenton via twitter 12/14/2015 3:50:13 PM
A standard that allows Porter not to belt just because *others* don't belt is one that would just create *more risk* in system, Bledsoe says

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 3:50:01 PM
In a very effective move (that I haven't seen before), prosecutors are playing clips of testimony to buttress claims being made in closings

by Justin Fenton via twitter 12/14/2015 3:48:53 PM
On reasonable officer standard & defense arg no officers belt, Bledsoe says, "A behavior isn't reasonable because everybody else does it."

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 3:47:45 PM
And it would be especially clear there would be danger to not seat belt if person is handcuffed and shackled, can't brace self, Bledsoe says

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 3:46:39 PM
Bledsoe began holding a seatbelt & clicking it. "How long does that take?"

by Justin Fenton via twitter 12/14/2015 3:46:21 PM
On failure to seat belt, Bledsoe says, "Every caretaker knows that it's dangerous to travel in a vehicle without a seat belt on."

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 3:45:25 PM
Prosecutor: "When Officer Porter failed to call for a medic, when they can door closed, that wagon became (Gray's) casket on wheels."

by Justin Fenton via twitter 12/14/2015 3:45:23 PM
Closing arguments underway in #PorterTrial

by Justin Fenton via twitter 12/14/2015 3:44:27 PM
Bledsoe getting into why actions/non-actions of Porter amount to crimes charged.

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 3:43:57 PM
When Porter got in van to check on #FreddieGray at 4th stop, he took on additional responsibility for Gray's well-being, Bledsoe said.

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 3:38:01 PM
Prosecution's experts only testified injury happened between 2nd & 4th stops. But Bledsoe implies in closing that it happened btw 2nd & 3rd

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 3:37:02 PM
Then Bledsoe says Goodson 1st interacts w Gray at 3rd stop, when "something catastrophic" happens in van and pulls over at Mosher/Fremont

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 3:35:27 PM
Bledsoe says video of 1st two stops show other officers loading Gray in van, not Goodson. Obv not only driver had responsibility, she says

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 3:33:56 PM
Really interesting bit of Bledsoe's closing, re Porter's shared responsibility with Off Goodson, the van driver.

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 3:32:58 PM
In the overflow room I'm running in and out of, #FreddieGray 's mother is watching the proceedings too, via the feed from the courtroom.

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 3:26:36 PM
Of training and general orders, seat belting and calling medic, Bledsoe says Porter "knew what he was supposed to do."

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 3:25:17 PM
"The only reasonable conclusion is that Officer Porter is not telling the truth," Bledsoe said.

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 3:24:22 PM
Bledsoe's strategy is clearly to argue Porter has been lying in court about multiple aspects of Gray's arrest to advantage himself.

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 3:23:44 PM
Bledsoe: Small % of detainees not accepted by Central Booking. By noting CB wouldn't take Gray, Porter "knew the seriousness" of Gray's inj

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 3:15:46 PM
Bledsoe: "This 'jailitis' is a bunch of crap." Says Porter brought up medic 1st, so Gray's "not the one who's playing the jailitis card"

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 3:14:10 PM
Bledsoe grabs, talks quickly into her collar, mimicking officer making police radio call. "'I need a medic.' That's all it would have taken"

by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/14/2015 3:12:43 PM