A Baltimore judge denied motions made by two police officers to suppress the statements they gave shortly after the death of Freddie Gray, who died from a fatal spine injury while in police custody back in April.

The death of 25-year-old Gray sparked national outraged after he died of a severe and critical neck injury on April 19, exactly seven days after he was apprehended by cops in Baltimore, report The Baltimore Sun. According to officials, the African American man was arrested for carrying a legal switchblade knife on the morning of April 12, and was then placed inside of a police van. However, he sustained sufficient neck injuries while riding in the van, and died a week later.

Following his death, the six officers involved with arresting and transporting Gray -- Edward Nero, Garrett Miller, William Porter and Caesar Goodson, and Lt. Brian Rice and Sgt. Alicia White -- were arrested on reckless endangerment charges. Rice, Porter and White are additionally facing manslaughter, while Goodson also faces charges with second-degree murder.

Prior to their upcoming trials, Sgt. Alicia White and Officer William Porter asked a Maryland circuit court judge to suppress the statements they gave to Baltimore police officers on the grounds that they were given while they were under duress and feared that silence would cost them their jobs, reports CNN. However, prosecutors argued that the statements were voluntary and will be key to obtaining convictions.

During a pretrial hearing held on Tuesday, Judge Barry Williams ruled that the statements are admissible in court, said Terri Charles, deputy director for the Office of Communications and Public Affairs for Maryland's Administrative Office of the Courts, to USA TODAY.

Officer Porter will be the first cop in the case to go on trial, starting on Nov. 30. He will also be a key witness in the trials of other officers, which are scheduled to begin early next year.