Maryland court orders officer to testify in Freddie Gray case

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Maryland's high court on Tuesday ordered a Baltimore police officer to testify against colleagues charged in the April fatality of Freddie Gray, a black man whose death triggered protests and rioting.

In a victory for prosecutors, the Court of Appeals ordered Officer William Porter to take the stand against Sergeant Alicia White and Officer Caesar Goodson. The order, signed by Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera, sent their cases back to a Baltimore court for trial.

Gray, 25, died in April from a neck injury suffered in the back of a police van. His death sparked unrest in the majority black city and spurred a U.S. debate on police treatment of minorities.

Six officers have been charged in Gray's death. Prosecutors tried Porter first, hoping to secure a conviction before using him as a witness in other cases. But his manslaughter trial ended in a hung jury in December.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-baltimore-police-idUSKCN0WA22J

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World | Tue Mar 8, 2016 12:24pm EST
BY IAN SIMPSON

[Faux pas]

1. Kick!!!

[TipTok]

2. What about his 5th Amendment rights?

[Kelvin Mace]

3. From the story

State attorneys argued before a seven-judge panel this month that Porter would have limited immunity and prosecutors would be barred from using his words against him.

[TipTok]

5. Hmm... I still don't think he should be forced..

State had their shot and came up empty...

[Kelvin Mace]

6. I believe that if you are granted immunity, you can be compelled to testify

But, if I were the defense lawyers being testified against, I would have a field day on cross.

[Calista241]

7. They granted him limited immunity, which is bullshit

They still have him under indictment, and he's supposed to just "trust" that prosecutors won't listen to what he says 5 different times against all of those other cops?

Give him full immunity or give him a pass if they want his testimony so badly. The state wants his testimony, and they don't want to have to pay for it. It's bullshit.

Why are there different levels of immunity in the first place if prosecutors can just say "oh, we won't use that against you, wink, wink, nod, nod."

[Kelvin Mace]

9. Personally,

I would eliminate all plea bargains. It gives the prosecutor too much power and results in innocent people doing time because they are poor.

[Eugene]

4. The Latest: Next Officer in Gray Case to Be Tried in April

Source: Associated Press

The Latest: Next Officer in Gray Case to Be Tried in April

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BALTIMORE — Mar 8, 2016, 3:15 PM ET

The Latest on an appeals court decision to force Officer William Porter to testify at his colleagues' trials on charges stemming from the death of Freddie Gray (all times local):

3:10 p.m.

A new trial date has been set for the next officer to stand trial on charges stemming from the death of Freddie Gray.

Lt. Brian Rice, whose trial was slated to begin Wednesday, will head to trial April 13.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys asked for a postponement at a brief hearing before Baltimore Circuit Judge Charles Peters.

The postponement came hours after an appeals court ruled that Officer William Porter must testify against his colleagues while he awaits a retrial. His trial ended in a hung jury in December. The trials for the other five officers have been on hold while the appeals court made its decision.

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Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/latest-judge-reschedule-trial-dates-gray-case-37493645

[S_B_Jackson]

8. As he's still potentially facing charges, I can guarantee his answers will be....

"Under advise of counsel, I refuse to answer that question and assert my rights under the 5th Amendment."

If I were in his shoes, no fucking way would I trust DA's office to keep their kinda-given, but with our fingers-crossed behind our backs word not to use his testimony against him. They can only hold him a maximum of 18 months for a finding of contempt of court - and no way that holds up on appeal.