Freddie Gray's death was ruled a homicide by the medical examiner. (Photo: DC Media Group/flickr/cc)
Jul 18, 2016
Baltimore Police Lt. Brian Rice, the highest ranking officer charged in the death of Freddie Gray, was on Monday acquitted on all counts.
It marks the fourth time prosecutors have failed to secure a conviction in the case, the Baltimore Sun notes, and in turn "is likely to renew calls for Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby to drop the remaining charges[...] including from the union that represents the city's rank-and-file officers."
Rice was found not guilty of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment, and misconduct in office by Circuit Judge Barry Williams in a bench trial. Williams previously handed down acquittals for officers Caesar Goodson and Edward Nero. The trial for Officer William G. Porter ended with a hung jury in December. A retrial is set for September 6.
The Sun reports of Williams' verdict on Monday:
The prosecution did not show Rice acted in a "grossly negligent manner," required of manslaughter, he said. It did not show that Rice acted in an unreasonable way or ignored the substantial risk in placing Gray in a police van without a seat belt, required for reckless endangerment, he said. And, it did not show Rice acted "corruptly," which is required for misconduct in office, he said.
Williams said a "mistake" or an "error in judgment" by Rice was not enough to prove the crimes alleged. He also briefly noted the difference between criminal negligence and civil negligence, an apparent nod to the fact that the city previously negotiated with Gray's family attorney, William H. "Billy" Murphy, on the civil side and agreed to pay the family $6.4 million.
According toBaltimore Sun crime reporter Justin Fenton, "the scene outside of the courthouse is very calm."
But some voiced their frustration on social media:
\u201cSo #FreddieGray's death was ruled a homicide, right? But none of the officers involved killed him? Who are they charging next?--the van?\u201d— Jacqui G. (@Jacqui G.) 1468854616
\u201cI get the depraved-heart murder charge was always an overreach. But how the hell were they acquitted of reckless endangerment? #FreddieGray\u201d— Matthew Chapman (@Matthew Chapman) 1468853823
There are two officers still facing charges. Officer Garrett Miller is scheduled to go to trial later this month and Sgt. Alicia White heads to court in October.
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Deirdre Fulton
Deirdre Fulton is a former Common Dreams senior editor and staff writer. Previously she worked as an editor and writer for the Portland Phoenix and the Boston Phoenix, where she was honored by the New England Press Association and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. A Boston University graduate, Deirdre is a co-founder of the Maine-based Lorem Ipsum Theater Collective and the PortFringe theater festival. She writes young adult fiction in her spare time.
Baltimore Police Lt. Brian Rice, the highest ranking officer charged in the death of Freddie Gray, was on Monday acquitted on all counts.
It marks the fourth time prosecutors have failed to secure a conviction in the case, the Baltimore Sun notes, and in turn "is likely to renew calls for Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby to drop the remaining charges[...] including from the union that represents the city's rank-and-file officers."
Rice was found not guilty of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment, and misconduct in office by Circuit Judge Barry Williams in a bench trial. Williams previously handed down acquittals for officers Caesar Goodson and Edward Nero. The trial for Officer William G. Porter ended with a hung jury in December. A retrial is set for September 6.
The Sun reports of Williams' verdict on Monday:
The prosecution did not show Rice acted in a "grossly negligent manner," required of manslaughter, he said. It did not show that Rice acted in an unreasonable way or ignored the substantial risk in placing Gray in a police van without a seat belt, required for reckless endangerment, he said. And, it did not show Rice acted "corruptly," which is required for misconduct in office, he said.
Williams said a "mistake" or an "error in judgment" by Rice was not enough to prove the crimes alleged. He also briefly noted the difference between criminal negligence and civil negligence, an apparent nod to the fact that the city previously negotiated with Gray's family attorney, William H. "Billy" Murphy, on the civil side and agreed to pay the family $6.4 million.
According toBaltimore Sun crime reporter Justin Fenton, "the scene outside of the courthouse is very calm."
But some voiced their frustration on social media:
\u201cSo #FreddieGray's death was ruled a homicide, right? But none of the officers involved killed him? Who are they charging next?--the van?\u201d— Jacqui G. (@Jacqui G.) 1468854616
\u201cI get the depraved-heart murder charge was always an overreach. But how the hell were they acquitted of reckless endangerment? #FreddieGray\u201d— Matthew Chapman (@Matthew Chapman) 1468853823
There are two officers still facing charges. Officer Garrett Miller is scheduled to go to trial later this month and Sgt. Alicia White heads to court in October.
Deirdre Fulton
Deirdre Fulton is a former Common Dreams senior editor and staff writer. Previously she worked as an editor and writer for the Portland Phoenix and the Boston Phoenix, where she was honored by the New England Press Association and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. A Boston University graduate, Deirdre is a co-founder of the Maine-based Lorem Ipsum Theater Collective and the PortFringe theater festival. She writes young adult fiction in her spare time.
Baltimore Police Lt. Brian Rice, the highest ranking officer charged in the death of Freddie Gray, was on Monday acquitted on all counts.
It marks the fourth time prosecutors have failed to secure a conviction in the case, the Baltimore Sun notes, and in turn "is likely to renew calls for Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby to drop the remaining charges[...] including from the union that represents the city's rank-and-file officers."
Rice was found not guilty of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment, and misconduct in office by Circuit Judge Barry Williams in a bench trial. Williams previously handed down acquittals for officers Caesar Goodson and Edward Nero. The trial for Officer William G. Porter ended with a hung jury in December. A retrial is set for September 6.
The Sun reports of Williams' verdict on Monday:
The prosecution did not show Rice acted in a "grossly negligent manner," required of manslaughter, he said. It did not show that Rice acted in an unreasonable way or ignored the substantial risk in placing Gray in a police van without a seat belt, required for reckless endangerment, he said. And, it did not show Rice acted "corruptly," which is required for misconduct in office, he said.
Williams said a "mistake" or an "error in judgment" by Rice was not enough to prove the crimes alleged. He also briefly noted the difference between criminal negligence and civil negligence, an apparent nod to the fact that the city previously negotiated with Gray's family attorney, William H. "Billy" Murphy, on the civil side and agreed to pay the family $6.4 million.
According toBaltimore Sun crime reporter Justin Fenton, "the scene outside of the courthouse is very calm."
But some voiced their frustration on social media:
\u201cSo #FreddieGray's death was ruled a homicide, right? But none of the officers involved killed him? Who are they charging next?--the van?\u201d— Jacqui G. (@Jacqui G.) 1468854616
\u201cI get the depraved-heart murder charge was always an overreach. But how the hell were they acquitted of reckless endangerment? #FreddieGray\u201d— Matthew Chapman (@Matthew Chapman) 1468853823
There are two officers still facing charges. Officer Garrett Miller is scheduled to go to trial later this month and Sgt. Alicia White heads to court in October.
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