Motions Filed In Rice Case

RadioOnFire.com - Today marks a deadline for prosecutors in the next trial of an officer charged in the death of Freddie Gray. 

Lt. Brian Rice is due to go on trial a week from tomorrow on charges of manslaughter, second degree assault, reckless endangerment and two counts of misconduct.

By the end of the day prosecutors must file any pre-trial motions they have, and any response to defense motions filed in the case.

Rice, 42,  was the officer who first spotted Freddie Gray and two other men on the morning of April 12, of last year and started chasing Gray.

Rice also helped load Gray back into the van at its second stop.

The defense is trying to throw out any argument of the legality of the knife Gray was carrying.

Prosecutors maintain the knife Gray was carrying was legal, therefore the arrest of Gray was illegal.

The defense is also seeking to dismiss the reckless endangerment charge noting it does not apply to police vehicles.

It is not known if Rice, like Officers Caesar Goodson and Edward Nero will ask for a bench trial rather than a jury trial.

That issue is expected to be resolved in court next week.

Goodson was acquitted of all charges last week by Judge Barry Williams, while Nero was acquitted last month.

Rice's attorneys have added attorney Michael Davey to a team that includes Chaz Ball, Michael Belsky and Marc Zayon, who also was on Officer Nero's defense team.  

Officer Garrett Miller is expected to testify for the state at Rice's trial.  He testified at Nero's trial last month that he was the one who put flex cuffs and leg shackles on Gray at the Van's seocnd stop, and Rice and Nero then loaded Gray back into the van.

Miller faces his own trial on July 27.

CLICK HERE to read the motions filed in the Lt. Brian Rice case.

Source WBAL