Good news........Trial Date Set For SIX Baltimore Officers Charged In Freddie Gray’s Death

[dixiegrrrrl]

Officers Caesar Goodson, Edward Nero, Garrett Miller, William Porter, Lt. Brian Rice, and Sgt. Alicia White are expected to be arraigned on July 2.

A motions hearing for the officers is scheduled for Sept. 2 at 9:30 a.m. and the trial is scheduled for October 13.

The death of 25-year-old Gray triggered violent riots after weeks of peaceful protests. Gray was taken into police custody on April 12 and died while in police custody on April 19.

His arrest, caught on cell phone video, allegedly showed officers using brutal force to arrest Gray. An autopsy report has not yet been made public.

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2015/06/22/court-appearances-scheduled-for-baltimore-officers-charged-in-freddie-grays-death/

A reminder of the Eddie Gray case, in April of this year:

Six Baltimore police officers have been suspended over the death of a man whose neck was broken after he was arrested and locked in a police van, as it emerged officers had delayed providing him with medical attention despite his requests.

Freddie Gray died from a “significant spinal injury”, police confirmed on Monday, while claiming it remained unknown how he was hurt. Chiefs said Gray appeared to have been injured while locked alone in a compartment of their transportation wagon.

“When Mr Gray was put in that van, he could talk, he was upset. And when he was taken out of that van, he could not talk and he could not breathe,” deputy police commissioner Jerry Rodriguez said at a press conference.
Gray died on Sunday, a week after being chased and arrested by officers at 8.39 am. His family say he lapsed into a coma after his spine was “80% severed” at his neck and his voice box was injured.

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/apr/20/baltimore-officers-suspended-death-freddie-gray

[Hekate]

1. Good

[HassleCat]

2. Not good

These six cops are being scapegoated, in my opinion. Police departments all over the country suffer the same problems, and the problems are systemic, institutionalized, not the result of "a few bad apples." What we need is a complete overhaul of police procedures and training. Instead, we get six cops on trial. Unsatisfactory.

[FSogol]

4. They'll get their day in court, which is much more than Freddie Gray will get.

[HassleCat]

5. Yes

And that does address the problem of Freddy Gray, although only in a rather limited way. It is unlikely all six will be convicted of much, and there will be complaining that the convictions were on lesser charges, and the punishments not severe enough, etc. So Freddy Gray's family and friends will probably walk away unhappy, not satisfied that justice was served. And the conclusion of the trials will allow police departments to wash their hands of the whole deal. "OK, that's over. Let's get back to work harassing the citizens." Incidents such as this need to motivate police reform. Instead, they just result in six cops lawyering up and beating most of the charges, maybe all the charges. I predict nobody will be happy with the outcome of this.

[LanternWaste]

6. Rather than "Instead, we get six cops on trial", I think it's "this can be a beginning."

Rather than "Instead, we get six cops on trial", I think it's "this can be a beginning."

An initial step of the nation's review and dialog of the obligations, responsibilities and authorities local law enforcement may or may not use. Many dramatic social changes have begun with small cases (e.g., TN v. John Scopes, or Murrow's broadcast criticizing a sitting Senator).

However, as I can neither prophecy nor do I posses second-sight, I must await the results prior to judging a thing as Satisfactory or not.

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. What I am seeing is different.

I am seeing that since Ferguson, people have stood up to the status quo, and every cop murder of a black person is being instantly scrutinized, to the point that police depts. are starting to hold cops accountable in a lot of cases.

Tis a trend which I think is gonna grow.

[yeoman6987]

3. That is really fast

I am sure lawyers will request continuences. I am surprised they aren't mid 2016 especially for murder trial. The faster the better.