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
Full coverage: Freddie Gray trials | Charges, timeline | Key people | Timeline | Newsletter
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Barring any last minute unresolved issues, appears we are poised to begin opening arguments in Porter's trial.by Justin Fenton via twitter 12/2/2015 4:19:52 PM -
And @MarilynMosbyEsq just arrived with aides, security detail.by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/2/2015 4:16:05 PM -
.@MarilynMosbyEsq just entered the courtroom with staff in towby Justin Fenton via twitter 12/2/2015 4:15:44 PM
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Multiple other dismissed jurors declined to talk to me. Going back in.by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/2/2015 4:13:28 PM
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But he said he told judge, attorneys that he hadn't reached opinion in this case and felt he could be impartial. Dismissed nonetheless.by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/2/2015 4:09:44 PM
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1 dismissed juror, former @baltimoresun editorial board member Franz Schneiderman, says he'd expressed concerns about police in city.by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/2/2015 4:08:36 PM
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by baltimoresun via twitter retweeted by justin_fenton 12/2/2015 4:07:14 PM -
Jury has been selected in Porter trial and is being sworn in. Other potential jurors have been dismissed. There are 12 jurors and 4 alts.by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/2/2015 4:06:52 PM
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The alternates are three white men and a black manby Justin Fenton via twitter 12/2/2015 4:00:56 PM
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Jury in trial of Officer William Porter:
-5 black women
-3 black men
-3 white women
-1 white menby Justin Fenton via twitter 12/2/2015 4:00:29 PM -
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On overflow feed looks like individual jurors are now being brought to bench one at a time to be questioned further, under white noise.by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/2/2015 3:24:54 PM
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"Keep hope alive people, keep hope alive," Judge Williams said.by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/2/2015 3:21:09 PM
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Judge Williams asks 1 more Q: Anything else jurors didn't mention Mon/Tues that would affect ability to be "fair and impartial." 4 stood.by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/2/2015 3:20:03 PM
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Jury selection has resumed in Officer Porter's case. I can't see how many jurors have returned on the overflow room feed.by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/2/2015 3:18:11 PM
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Also today, @justin_fenton will be in the courtroom.by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/2/2015 2:09:54 PM
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A sheriff's deputy watching me scurry around court all day yesterday asked me if I was going to wear my Nike's today hahaby Kevin Rector via twitter 12/2/2015 2:09:00 PM
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Today I'll be trying to post updates when I can by running from the overflow room to the "media room," where there's no feed of proceedings.by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/2/2015 2:05:04 PM
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Those in courtroom can't have phones, etc, or come/go except on breaks. Those in overflow room can't have phones, etc, but can come/go.by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/2/2015 2:02:34 PM
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Remember yesterday when I couldnt get any of officers' case files? Told Judge Williams only has Porters. Still dont kno why others not availby Kevin Rector via twitter 12/2/2015 1:51:28 PM
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Potential jurors in Officer Porter's trial screened for connections to hundreds of people amid Freddie Gray investigation
About 200 people have been named as potential witnesses or stakeholders in the trial of the first of six Baltimore police officers charged in the arrest and death of Freddie Gray, a list that is a sprawling catalog of law enforcement officers, witnesses to Gray's arrest and some of his friends from West Baltimore.
Fired city police commissioner Anthony W. Batts is on the list, as are two of the lead police investigators on the case: Maj. Stanley Brandford and Detective Syreeta Teel.
The list also includes people on the scene the morning of Gray's arrest, including Davonte Roary, Brandon Ross and Michelle Gross. There's also Donta Allen, the man who rode in the back of the same police van as Gray.
The list does not represent the total number of people who will be called to testify, legal experts said, but is an attempt to include anyone who could possibly be relevant to either prosecutors or the defense to avoid surprises during the high-profile trial, which is expected to begin with opening statements Wednesday.
"The 200 names you heard rattled off should probably be the entire universe for this case," said a former city prosecutor, Kurt Nachtman. -
Potential jurors have been screened for connections to hundreds of witnesses, stakeholders in the #FreddieGray case baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/…by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/2/2015 1:23:42 PM
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Back in court today, expecting jury to be seated in Officer William Porter's trial in the #FreddieGray case - leading into opening argumentsby Kevin Rector via twitter 12/2/2015 1:23:24 PM
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Opening arguments today could provide the most detailed explanation yet of the state's case and Off Porter's defense baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/…by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/2/2015 1:23:22 PM
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Media line for Officer William Porter's trial, which could begin with opening arguments as soon as this am http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CVOTYFRUsAIxoeK.jpg
by Justin Fenton via twitter 12/2/2015 1:23:12 PM -
DAY THREE: The trial of William G. Porter, one of six Baltimore police officers charged in the arrest and death of Freddie Gray, is poised to begin Wednesday after a 12-person jury of city residents is seated, according to court officials.
What is happening today?
Jury selection is expected to wrap up Wednesday morning, which could mean that opening statements could get under way before the end of the day.
Opening statement from prosecutors and defense attorneys are likely to provide new details about both the state's case against Porter and his defense.
How did we get to this point?
The panel's selection and each side's opening statements in the trial will come after two days of jury proceedings Monday and Tuesday, during which Baltimore Circuit Judge Barry G. Williams, prosecutors and defense attorneys questioned members of a 150-person jury pool in an attempt to weed out those deemed biased.
The start of the trial in Baltimore also follows months of arguments from defense attorneys that a fair jury cannot possibly be seated in the city, given the high profile of the case and its impact on local residents.
How will they finalize the jury?
The remaining potential jurors from Monday and Tuesday's pools will be reduced to the 12-person jury panel and a small group of alternates Wednesday.
That reduction will occur at least in part through the four "peremptory strikes" that both the prosecutors and Porter's attorneys can make to remove jurors not previously eliminated for a specific cause.
A court spokeswoman said she did not know how many potential jurors would be called back to the court on Wednesday or how many had been dismissed as of Tuesday.
What do we know about the potential jury?
Based on open-court questioning of the jury pools Monday and Tuesday, everyone seated on the panel jury will have prior knowledge of the case and the citywide curfew that went into effect during the unrest.
Most, if not all, will be aware of the $6.4 million civil settlement that the city has agreed to pay Gray's family.
Two people in Tuesday's pool of potential jurors stood when asked if they knew Gray. It was unclear whether they had been dismissed.
Can attorneys still ask for the trial to be moved?
Porter's attorneys are likely to ask again on Wednesday for the trial to be moved out of the city, in part to place their objections to a city trial on the record for a possible appeal. -
DAY TWO: A second pool of about 75 potential jurors was questioned Tuesday in the effort to seat a jury for the trial of Baltimore Police Officer William Porter in the death of Freddie Gray.
Tuesday's process was nearly identical to the first day of jury selection Monday, with potential jurors being asked the same questions from Judge Barry G. Williams, and all indicating they were familiar with the case.
Here's what happened Tuesday:
-- Like Monday, the potential jurors were questioned as a group in open court and then some were questioned individually in private.
-- Each member of the 75-person pool said they were aware of Gray's death and the citywide curfew imposed in response to the unrest that followed.
-- Two people in the jury pool stood when asked if they knew Freddie Gray.
-- A court spokeswoman announced that court will reconvene at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, when the panel of 12 jurors and a number of alternates is expected to be finalized.
What's next: Jury selection is expected to wrap up Wednesday morning, which could mean that opening statements could get under way Wednesday afternoon. -
Jurors in Officer Porter's trial in the #FreddieGray case were screened for connections to hundreds of people. bsun.md/1NGISLfby baltimoresun via twitter 12/2/2015 3:42:06 AM
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The jury for Officer Porter's trial in the Freddie Gray case is expected to be chosen Wednesday morning. bsun.md/1Nl5SJgby baltimoresun via twitter 12/1/2015 11:15:07 PM
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In new press release, Circuit Court says "trial begins" tomorrow for Officer William Porter, in #FreddieGray case.by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/1/2015 10:58:39 PM
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We'll be back in Courthouse East tomorrow a.m. w/ smaller pool of remaining jurors from Monday and today. Peremptory strikes in open courtby Kevin Rector via twitter retweeted by justin_fenton 12/1/2015 10:28:02 PM
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BREAKING: Jury for Porter trial in #FreddieGray case will be picked tomorrow, court says.by Kevin Rector via twitter retweeted by justin_fenton 12/1/2015 10:27:58 PM
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Defense has reasserted desire to move trial out of city repeatedly, will likely do so again tomorrow. Still, looks like we're moving ahead.by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/1/2015 10:21:05 PM
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How long strikes, finalizing jury will take unclear, so don't know if trial will begin tomorrow or not, court spokeswoman said.by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/1/2015 10:03:31 PM
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Court spokeswoman would not say how many potential jurors are still in the remaining pool, how many have been dismissed.by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/1/2015 10:02:25 PM
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We'll be back in Courthouse East tomorrow a.m. w/ smaller pool of remaining jurors from Monday and today. Peremptory strikes in open courtby Kevin Rector via twitter 12/1/2015 10:00:49 PM
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BREAKING: Jury for Porter trial in #FreddieGray case will be picked tomorrow, court says.by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/1/2015 9:56:57 PM
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CNN deletes phrase referencing Freddie Gray's mother as "an illiterate heroin addict." bsun.md/1lsS4WEby baltimoresun via twitter retweeted by justin_fenton 12/1/2015 9:24:51 PM
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Baltimore lawyers: Is this handing of written instructions to members of jury pool unusual? Seems so, but we rarely cover jury selectionby Justin Fenton via twitter 12/1/2015 9:20:17 PM
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Judge Williams dismissed some jurors never interviewed in back room. Told those who were interviewed to follow written instructions.by Kevin Rector via twitter retweeted by justin_fenton 12/1/2015 9:19:45 PM
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Jury selection has wrapped up for the day in the trial of Officer William Porter #Baltimore #FreddieGrayby Phil Yacuboski via twitter retweeted by justin_fenton 12/1/2015 9:19:26 PM -
Judge Williams dismissed some jurors never interviewed in back room. Told those who were interviewed to follow written instructions.by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/1/2015 9:08:52 PM
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I have the question in with court staff. Will update.by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/1/2015 8:30:26 PM
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I'll double check this today with other court staff.by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/1/2015 8:21:59 PM
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I appreciate posting of docs online. If only that were standard! But we should have access beyond what and when court staff decides to post.by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/1/2015 8:16:42 PM