RadioOnFire.com - The more the officers are tried in the death of Freddie Gray, the more I realize this whole thing is a joke! The real questions are not being addressed! Why was Freddie Gray initially pursued before he was arrested? Was the knife he was in possession of within the legal limit? The condition Freddie Gray was in when he was put into the van, makes this a police brutality case - so why are his obvious (pre van) injuries not being talked about?
Judge Barry Williams proceeding over this case is a conflict of interest for many reasons. This whole thing should be investigated by the Justice Department. However, the defense rested Tuesday. Lt. Brian Rice did not take the stand in his own defense. I fear all of these officers will walk from Judge Williams courtroom with full acquittals. Judge Barry Williams set closing arguments for Thursday at 10 a.m.
12:45 p.m.
Judge Barry Williams has granted a request of the attorneys for Lt. Brian Rice to allow portions of the transcript of the trial of another accused officer charged in the death of Freddie Gray to be used as evidence at Rice's trial.
Judge Williams ruled on the motion that will allow around five pages of the trial transcript from Officer William Porter's testimony at his own trial in December to be admitted into evidence.
Porter testified for the prosecution Monday, under limited immunity, and his attorneys told the judge that Porter would invoke his Fifth Amendment rights if he is called for the defense.
In the testimony at his trial Porter addressed his conduct at the police van's first and second stop, where Rice loaded Gray into the van.
The judge agreed with Rice's attorneys that because of Porter's refusal to testify for the defense he is an "unavailable witness," and the only way to get Porter to address the issue Rice's attorneys want to raise is to admit the trial transcript into evidence.
The judge acknowledged this is a "unique situation" when making this decision.
The defense initially requested 27 pages of testimony to be admitted into evidence, but the Judge is admitting only five.
Porter testified in his own defense at his trial on December 9. That trial ended with a hung jury one week later. Porter faces a retrial in September.
Court is now in a lunch break.
Judge Williams said when the proceedings resume at 2 o'clock, prosecutors will have a chance to make their own request for additional evidence, and then the defense can present more witnesses.
The defense which has presented four witnesses over the last two days could wrap up its case later today.
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