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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Continuing to drive him around "didn't help him at all, may very well have caused significantly more injury," Soriano saidby Justin Fenton via twitter 12/7/2015 7:59:46 PM -
State expert Dr Marc Soriano testified that if Gray had gotten quicker medical attention, it would likely have saved his lifeby Justin Fenton via twitter 12/7/2015 7:58:53 PM
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Just posted: Judge William's official order making the jury in the Porter trial anonymous to protect them baltocts.state.md.us/highlighted_tr…by Ian Duncan via twitter 12/7/2015 7:56:43 PM -
The next witness on the stand, a board certified neurosurgeon, has previously testified against Baltimore police caselaw.findlaw.com/md-court-of-sp…by Justin Fenton via twitter 12/7/2015 6:32:42 PM
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Judge Williams threatens attorney with contempt
In cross examining Allan, Murtha at times ran afoul of Judge Barry Williams, who told Murtha multiple times not to "testify" but to ask questions. At one point, when Murtha suggested Allan should have found Gray's manner of death was an accident, Williams warned him that he could be found in contempt.
Williams also chastised Allan for not directly answering questions, providing more information than Murtha was asking for. Williams admonished both Allan and Murtha for the "banter" between them.
Read more. -
Porter attorney questions 'homicide' ruling
On Monday, Porter's attorney Joseph Murtha cross-examined Allan, and questioned her about how she came to her finding that the manner of Gray's death was a homicide.
Murtha asked Allan whether she was given any evidence that showed Gray was injured between the second and fourth stops of the van, of if that was her belief.
She said she hadn't been given evidence, but that her finding was based on witness statements and her medical findings.
Murtha pressed that it was "a theory," to which Allan agreed.
Allan said she would not have determined that homicide was the manner of death had Porter called for a medic "promptly" upon finding Gray on the floor of the van at the fourth stop.
Read more. -
Medical examiner explains 'homicide' ruling in Freddie Gray autopsy
The trial of Officer William Porter in the death of Freddie Gray resumed Monday morning with assistant state medical examiner Dr. Carol Allan returning to the witness stand in a downtown Baltimore courtroom.
Among other testimony, Allan said she would not have classified Gray's death a homicide had Porter called for a medic when he first came into direct contact with Gray.
Read more. -
Porter defense, in his question, says "if Officer Goodson has transported Gray as Porter directed"; a benefit of separate trialsby Justin Fenton via twitter 12/7/2015 5:03:50 PM
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Allan reiterates at close of defense cross: "If he had gotten prompt medical attention, it would not have been a homicide"by Justin Fenton via twitter 12/7/2015 5:02:56 PM
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Porter defense notes Gray was found in essentially same position at stops 2&4, questions how that would be possible after what had occurredby Justin Fenton via twitter 12/7/2015 5:02:00 PM
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Allan believes Gray, loaded into van on stomach, stood up and suffered high energy injury when van accelerated or decelerated btwn stops 2-4by Justin Fenton via twitter 12/7/2015 5:00:06 PM
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Porter's attorney: "What you concluded is based on what you believe happened?"
Dr. Allan: "I do believe it."by Justin Fenton via twitter 12/7/2015 4:58:58 PM -
How did we get to this point?
Officer William Porter is the first of six officers to stand trial in Gray's arrest and death in April.
Since then a debate has raged over policing in Baltimore's majority African-American neighborhoods. Outrage over Gray's death and simmering tensions over police treatment of residents fueled days of protests that erupted into riots, arson and looting on the day of his funeral.
The Justice Department is in the midst of a full-scale civil rights investigation of the department. The agency had already launched a collaborative review of the department after a Baltimore Sun investigation found that the city had paid nearly $6 million since 2011 in court judgments and settlements in lawsuits alleging brutality and other misconduct. -
Why is Officer William G. Porter on trial first?
Prosecutors have asked that Porter go on trial first because they say he will be called as a witness to testify against two other officers. In a letter to Judge Barry Williams, Chief Deputy State's Attorney Michael Schatzow said Porter is "a necessary and material witness in the cases against" Officer Caesar Goodson, Jr. and Sgt. Alicia White.
In an earlier hearing, defense attorneys raised concerns that the statements could create problems in a joint trial pitting one defendant's right to confront his or her accuser against another's right not to testify. Partially redacted statements by some officers were submitted to the court, though under seal. -
Judge Williams repeatedly admonishes Murtha and Allan for "banter" btw then, demand simple question/answer.by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/7/2015 4:12:04 PM
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Dr. Allan also says that she would not have ruled Freddie Gray's death a homicide if he was taken straight to the hospital after stop 4by Justin Fenton via twitter 12/7/2015 4:07:50 PM
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"I can only say he went in (the van) without a neck injury," Allan testifies when pressed for proof or evidence of how injury sufferedby Justin Fenton via twitter 12/7/2015 4:06:59 PM
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Allan testified that she believes Freddie Gray was injured at some point between stops 2 and 4by Justin Fenton via twitter 12/7/2015 4:05:57 PM
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More: Dr Allan says she "discussed the possibility" that Gray had prior neck injury "based on my examination & what found at autopsy"by Justin Fenton via twitter 12/7/2015 4:05:22 PM
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Murtha asks if Allan was advised of prior neck injuries to Gray (this has never been substantiated). Multiple bench conferences, now breakby Justin Fenton via twitter 12/7/2015 3:09:41 PM
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Dr Allan says no evidence of blunt force trauma on Gray. "If you're asking did I find excessive force had been used, no," Allan saysby Justin Fenton via twitter 12/7/2015 3:08:13 PM
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Allan says there is guidance that may be followed, or not.
"Like a Police Dept general order?" Murtha asksby Justin Fenton via twitter 12/7/2015 3:07:12 PM -
Murtha asks Dr Allan about how medical examiner's office differentiates between a homicide and an accidental deathby Justin Fenton via twitter 12/7/2015 3:06:09 PM
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Porter def atty Murtha notes medical examiner's testimony Friday was about her opinion of Gray's death, but not the basis for reaching itby Justin Fenton via twitter 12/7/2015 3:05:19 PM
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First update: Defense is going after medical examiner's findings in Freddie Gray's deathby Justin Fenton via twitter 12/7/2015 3:04:17 PM
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Freddie Gray's autopsy report
Freddie Gray suffered a single "high-energy injury" to his neck and spine — most likely caused when the police van in which he was riding suddenly decelerated, according to a copy of the autopsy report obtained by The Baltimore Sun in June.
The state medical examiner's office concluded that Gray's death could not be ruled an accident, and was instead a homicide, because officers failed to follow safety procedures "through acts of omission."
Though Gray was loaded into the van on his belly, the medical examiner surmised that he may have gotten to his feet and was thrown into the wall during an abrupt change in direction. He was not belted in, but his wrists and ankles were shackled, putting him "at risk for an unsupported fall during acceleration or deceleration of the van."
The medical examiner compared Gray's injury to those seen in shallow-water diving incidents.
Read an excerpt from the report here. -
Prosecutors in Freddie Gray case have more experience on defense side
baltimoresun.comTo try one of the biggest cases in Baltimore's history, the state has turned to two unconventional choices with lawyers who have more experience representing corporate and criminal defendants than prosecuting them. -
Doctor who performed autopsy to return to witness stand
When proceedings closed Friday, assistant state medical examiner Dr. Carol Allan was on the stand. As the trial of Officer William Porter resumes this morning, Allan is expected to return to the witness stand in a downtown Baltimore courtroom.
Allan was first called by prosecutors on Friday, and asked to describe the spinal cord injury that Gray suffered while in police custody in April. Freddie Gray, 25, died a week later, with rioting and looting breaking out on the day of his funeral. Porter and five other Baltimore police officers have been charged in his arrest and death; all have pleaded not guilty.
On Monday, Porter's attorneys will have a chance to cross-examine Allan, and are expected to question her finding that the manner of Gray's death was a homicide. -
Freddie Gray case: Officer Porter trial moves into Week 2
baltimoresun.comThe trial of Officer William Porter in the death of Freddie Gray is set to resume Monday morning with assistant state medical examiner Dr. Carol Allan returning to the witness stand in a downtown Baltimore courtroom. -
In pretrial motions, the defense suggested Allan reached that conclusion only after improper influence by prosecutors.by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/7/2015 1:31:14 PM
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Defense is expected to question how Allan reached her finding that the "manner" of #FreddieGray's death was homicide.by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/7/2015 1:31:14 PM
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Expecting asst state medical examiner Dr. Carol Allan, who performed #FreddieGray's autopsy, back on stand for defense cross examinationby Kevin Rector via twitter 12/7/2015 1:31:13 PM
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Besides ill-fated stint as police misconduct prosecutor, Bledsoe has picked apart police work as crim def atty, but also defended some copsby Justin Fenton via twitter 12/7/2015 1:31:00 PM
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Schatzow was prosecutor 30 years ago; since then repped corporate clients but still the indigent on side; pulled back to public serviceby Justin Fenton via twitter 12/7/2015 1:30:59 PM
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My story today: a look at the interesting careers of the prosecutors trying the Freddie Gray cases baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/…by Justin Fenton via twitter 12/7/2015 1:30:58 PM
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But Porter also said police planned to take him to hospital, didnt call medic because in practice they wont come out fw.to/cOi7XDWby Justin Fenton via twitter 12/7/2015 1:30:56 PM
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Back in court today. On Friday, jury heard Officer Porter say he didn't believe Freddie Gray was hurt fw.to/cOi7XDWby Justin Fenton via twitter 12/7/2015 1:30:55 PM
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DAY FIVEThe first week of the trial of Baltimore Police Officer William Porter ended around 5 p.m. Friday, during testimony of Dr. Carol Allan, the medical examiner who performed the autopsy on Freddie Gray.Porter is the first of six police officers to be tried in the death of Gray, a 25-year-old West Baltimore resident who suffered a severe spinal injury after his arrest on April 12 and died a week later. Porter and the other five officers have pleaded not guilty to a range of charges, which include manslaughter, assault and misconduct in office.
+ Det. Syreeta Teel returned to the stand Friday morning, discussing Porter's statements made to investigators days after Gray's arrest.
+ Porter's full statement, police radio from the day Gray was arrested, as well as Teel's notes from her phone call with Porter, were introduced as evidence.
+ Porter's videotaped statement was played for the jury.
+ Under cross-examination, Teel said that she considered Porter a witness, not a suspect, and did not follow protocols for interviewing a suspect for that reason.
+ Asst. Medical Examiner Dr. Carol Allan, who performed Gray's autopsy, was called to the stand. She is expected to continue testimony on Monday, when the trial resumes at 9 a.m.
In Porter's interview with investigators:+ Porter said Gray seemed lethargic, but responded to questions and did not articulate a specific medical problem.+ Porter said that regardless of whether Gray was hurt, he recognized that Central Booking would not accept him and that he would need to go to the hospital. When the police van stopped at North and Pennsylvania Avenues, Porter said he told that to Sgt. Alicia White, and she directed Porter to accompany Gray to Bon Secours.+ After the van arrived at the Western District station to drop off another prisoner, Porter said Gray was unconscious and not breathing. "Oh s---, we need to call for a medic," he recalls the officers saying.
Witnesses called:
- Det. Syreeta Teel, in continuation from Day Four- Asst. Medical Examiner Dr. Carol Allan, who performed Freddie Gray's autopsy -
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Then Bledsoe finished. Judge Williams called it a day. Allan will be back on stand on Monday for defense cross.by Kevin Rector via twitter retweeted by justin_fenton 12/4/2015 10:04:01 PM
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Bledsoe asked Allan if she had a "reasonable certainty" about manner and cause of Gray's death. She said yes.by Kevin Rector via twitter retweeted by justin_fenton 12/4/2015 10:03:58 PM
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Before letting them go Judge Williams repeatedly tells jurors not to discuss case over weekend. "It sounds like I am being redundant. I am."by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/4/2015 10:02:25 PM
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Then Bledsoe finished. Judge Williams called it a day. Allan will be back on stand on Monday for defense cross.by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/4/2015 10:00:14 PM
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Bledsoe asked Allan if she had a "reasonable certainty" about manner and cause of Gray's death. She said yes.by Kevin Rector via twitter 12/4/2015 9:59:06 PM