Defense: Porter "should not be held responsible for simply checking on the young black man during a police van ride"
A defense attorney for one of six police officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray says his client should not be held responsible for simply checking on the young black man during a police van ride.
Defense attorney Gary Proctor said during opening statements Wednesday that when Gray began requesting aid “he showed no signs of needing medical attention because he hadn't suffered the injury yet.”
Prosecutors say Gray died after his neck was broken in the back of a police van. They also say he should've been buckled into a seatbelt and that Officer William Porter is criminally responsible for failing to render aid.
Proctor characterized Porter as a man born and raised in West Baltimore who became a police officer “not to swing a big stick, but to help people.”
He told the jury that they “may hope finding him guilty will quell unrest,” but that Porter committed no crime. - AP
The day it all began: 8:39 a.m.
Four officers on bicycles attempted to stop Freddie Gray and another man , who ran after seeing police at the intersection of W North Avenue and N. Mount Street on April 12, 2015. “A lieutenant begins pursuing Mr. Gray after making eye contact with two individuals, one of which is Mr. Gray,” Deputy Commissioner Jerry Rodriguez said.
More about the day Freddie Gray was arrested
Surveillance footage shows a man running through West Baltimore's Gilmor Homes complex on the morning of April 12, when Freddie Gray sustained a fatal spine injury while in police custody.
Recap of prosecution's opening statements
- Prosecutors told jurors at the opening for the first trial in the death of Freddie Gray that Baltimore police Officer William G. Porter "criminally neglected his duty" to help Gray by failing to seatbelt him or call for help when it was clear Gray was seriously hurt.
- Prosecutors detailed the route of van to support their opening statements, as well as Freddie Gray's injuries.
- Schatzow told the jurors that Porter ignored several chances to help Gray, being involved at five of six stops the transport van made on its way to Central Booking.
Sketch of #FreddieGray media waiting for court to begin this morning in trial of officer Porter http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CVOg-91U4AAyeld.jpg