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.
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.
Gray, 25, died from a spinal cord injury suffered in the back of a police transport van after being arrested April 12, prosecutors said. His death a week later sparked widespread protests against police brutality, and his funeral was followed by rioting, looting and arson. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake instituted a weeklong curfew, and Gov. Larry Hogan called in the National Guard. On May 1, Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby announced a range of charges against the six officers involved in Gray’s arrest and transport.
Porter has pleaded not guilty to charges of manslaughter, second-degree assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment. The other five officers have also pleaded not guilty.
Attorneys for Porter and the other officers have argued that potential city jurors would not only have prior knowledge of the case, but could fear that acquitting the officers would cause more unrest. Prosecutors have said city jurors would have to be questioned to see if they could be fair, and Williams agreed.
Live coverage: http://bsun.md/liveblog
Wonder how those 3 TERROTIST in San Bernadino, CA got away, after shooting and killing multiple people, and Freddie Gray didn’t live after begin roughed up, got severed spine, and DIED for looking at police
https://twitter.com/lizzzbrown/status/672126178459828224
https://twitter.com/BaltimoreTrial/status/672125463955906562
https://twitter.com/lizzzbrown/status/672110712181886976
No way on God’s green earth would I step over an injured or wounded animal & not give care or get medical help. #FreddieGray received NOTHING!
Poor #FreddieGray. A severed spine and no one helped him. Shoulder & head slumped on bench. Not breathing. *tears*
DEPRAVED, SOULESS all of these cops. Protect & defend?! No protection was ever given to Freddie Gray, and now it looks like the only defending these MOFOs are doing is for themselves.
It’s gut-wrenching what they did to Freddie
They maimed and mutilated his body and he subsequently died from those injuries. And the cops did this for no reason other than they felt like f***ing with him. Same as the choking of Eric Garner. They may as well come out and say it. “We did this because we felt like it and we did not expect to be held accountable because we are cops.”
And they expected that Blue Wall of silence to protect them.
NOT THIS TIME MUTHAPHUCKAS!
*tears*
https://twitter.com/RectorSun/status/672108215480487936
Paralyzed. By cops.
https://twitter.com/RectorSun/status/672107335985274880
https://twitter.com/RectorSun/status/672106676242227201
Marilyn J. Mosby, right, State’s Attorney for Baltimore City, arrives at courthouse East for the trial of police officer William Porter, one of six Baltimore police officers charged with the death of Freddie Gray.
My hero! Black Girls Rock!
https://twitter.com/lizzzbrown/status/672107376397406208
those cops-DEPRAVED ANIMALS. Worse than animals…
break my heart
What is obvious here yet very difficult to accept is that Freddie Gray’s life meant absolutely nothing to those cops. Nor did they care if he would live the rest of his life with severe disabilities. They didn’t even think about it. They just felt like f***ing with someone. Must have been bored.
https://twitter.com/lizzzbrown/status/672106509501931520
Ohhhhh…. So sad
https://twitter.com/RectorSun/status/672102474422075392
https://twitter.com/RectorSun/status/672097576360001536
https://twitter.com/RectorSun/status/672098064128192512
https://twitter.com/RectorSun/status/672098443058352128
https://twitter.com/RectorSun/status/672101481810628608
https://twitter.com/RectorSun/status/672101800401616896
https://twitter.com/RectorSun/status/672102109882556416
Freddie Gray asked for MEDIC HELP
And you, William Porter did not advocate for Mr. Gray receiving it.
WHY THE FUCK NOT?
Dear Lord this is heart wrenching. And what started this? Some cop didn’t like the way Freddie Gray looked at him?
Yes, but that knife THO!
GOD have Mercy….
https://twitter.com/RectorSun/status/672094361438568448
Damn SKIPPY. Trail Porter & Porter only. Mr. GRAY is DEAD. He was MURDERED.
https://twitter.com/BaltimoreTrial/status/672098809388924929
https://twitter.com/lizzzbrown/status/672100231819993088
https://twitter.com/lizzzbrown/status/672092946095804416
Wonder if Porter gonna sing like a YELLOW-BELLIED CANARY against the other 2 cops.
I hope so. I hope these cops become the equivalent of a circular firing squad. That is why we need trials instead of DOJ investigations and reports. There’s something about the prospect of a prison cell that makes a person think differently about loyalty and brotherhood and entitlement and whatever else bonds these folks.
The fact that all these KILLER COPS are charged and stand trial is a shameful, criminal RACIST commentary of the USA justice system. Black folks have to protest, scream, and literally fight for the RIGHT to LIVE in this country.
Do we ever see white folks roaming the streets with signs yelling for JUSTICE for the RIGHT to LIVE?
White people do not fight for each other, at least not in the same way as black folks. There is not much that binds them to one another even when they share the same beliefs.
I get this. White folks don’t get same treatment as black folks when it comes to EQUAL JUSTICE for same crimes or no crimes at all. PERIOD.
God’s truth.
Lizz Brown is in the courtroom. We know she’ll give us the details and excellent reporting.
Looking forward to reading Lizz’s commentary on this trial.
I want to see Marilyn Mosby in that courtroom. I want to see her in action.
DITTO! And I want to see EACH & EVERY one of these cops CONVICTED for killing Freddie Gray.
The Jury has been seated, folks!
https://twitter.com/wbaltv11/status/672083192468234240
We have a Jury, folks!
The Jury in trial of Officer William Porter
5 black women
3 black men
3 white women
1 white man
alternates
3 white men
1 black man
So the jury has been picked?
8 black jurors
The question is:
WILL THE SAME JURY SERVE THROUGHOUT ALL THE KILLER COPS’ TRIALS?
And not just the first black cop William Porter.
Robert Lang @Reporterroblang 4m4 minutes ago
BREAKING—#WilliamPorter Jury made up of 8 women, 4 men, 8 blacks, 4 whites. Four men are alternates, 3 are black 1 white.
Robert Lang @Reporterroblang 3m3 minutes ago
BREAKING—Initially, jury was picked, both sides had challenges left, & switched some jurors in one case black woman replaced w. white man
Breaking News!
https://twitter.com/baltimoresun/status/672084230005006336
https://twitter.com/justin_fenton/status/672042838113296385
https://twitter.com/lizzzbrown/status/672078941386076160
https://twitter.com/lizzzbrown/status/672077704003526656