Freddie Gray Trial Against Officer Delayed
A Maryland appeals court decided Monday to postpone the trial of a Baltimore police van driver involved in the death of Freddie Gray.
Reuters reports the trial against 46-year-old Caesar Goodson Jr. was delayed by the Court of Special Appeals in Annapolis, pending the decision on whether another Baltimore officer should have to testify in the case.
William Porter, whose own case ended in a hung jury last December, may be compelled to once again appear in court to testify against Goodson, as well as another officer charged in the Gray case.
According to ABC News, trial judge Barry Williams ruled last week that Porter would have to testify in the case, despite the officer's argument that doing so would violate his right to not incriminate himself. The appeals court is now weighing the judge's decision.
Chief Judge Peter Krauser wrote in a ruling Monday that it was in the best interest of all parties involved to settle the issue before the start of Goodson's trial.
Porter and Goodson are among six officers implicated in Gray's death. The 25-year-old black man died a week after breaking his neck while being transported in a police van last April.
The incident received nationwide attention, and it triggered a series of protests and riots throughout Baltimore. A subsequent report by the Police Executive Research Forum revealed that the Baltimore police department was ill prepared to deal with the ensuing unrest.
Goodson faces the most severe charges among the accused, including a second-degree "depraved heart" murder charge, reserved for killings with an extreme disregard for human life. If convicted, he could receive up to 30 years behind bars.
He also faces three counts of assault, misconduct in office and endangerment.
Porter is being tried on involuntary manslaughter, among other charges. His retrial is scheduled for June.
Both Goodson and Porter have pled not guilty to the charges.
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