Baltimore police officer found not guilty of second-degree murder in death of Freddie Gray

[philosslayer]

Source: CNBC

This story is developing. Please check back for further updates.

Read more: http://www.cnbc.com/2016/06/23/baltimore-police-officer-found-not-guilty-of-second-degree-murder-in-death-of-freddie-gray-.html

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Is anyone really surprised? Another cop got away with murder.

[merrily]

1. Sad, sad, sad--and scary.

[yeoman6987]

3. The problem is we don't get to see the trial not do we get to see jury

deliberations. I think that needs to be changed. Every case should be made available on CSPAN. Otherwise everyone will question a verdict. The only thing we can do now is speak from ignorance because the government keeps trials from the population.

[Keefer]

5. There was no jury.

It was a bench trial.

[yeoman6987]

6. I was speaking generally

I think we need 100 percent transparency in all cases.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

8. I agree with you... the judicial system is rigged against those who can't afford to defend themselves and in favor of crooked law enforcement.

[merrily]

9. Most trials are open to the public, though not necessarily broadcast (tho some are).

If we had decent journalists.....

[OKNancy]

2. "If you are innocent ask for a bench trial" - my dad

My father was a criminal defense lawyer, then a prosecutor, and finally a judge.
He told his children, "If it ever comes up just remember.... If you are guilty, ask for a jury trial, if you are innocent ask for a bench trial.

[NaturalHigh]

13. I've heard the same thing.

[Bluzmann57]

4. Maybe they should just save taxpayer $ and have a mass "not guilty" verdict

They're all going to be acquitted anyway, so why waste time and money with show trials?

[Akicita]

18. I don't share your confidence in their innocence. They should have to go through a trial.

If it is that obvious that they are innocent, they should never have been charged.

[NaturalHigh]

27. "If it is that obvious that they are innocent, they should never have been charged."

A lot of us have made that same point; they should have never been charged. That idiot Mosby really screwed up on this one.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

28. Well, maybe only one or two cops should have been charged.

It seemed the prosecutor and the mayor were trying to make political hay out of this, over-charging every cop who might have been in the area.

It made great press at the time.

[Akicita]

29. Screwed up as far as serving justice is concerned but did the right thing for her political career.

Apparently that is much more important to her than seeing that justice is served. It looks like she decided to throw those cops under the bus to further her political career. Must be a great morale booster for the Baltimore police dept. I bet they can't wait until she is mayor.

[TipTok]

30. Not anymore...

She took a calculated risk for political gain those odds went down when they were granted separate trials and then even further down after the hung juries etc...

Not to mention the over charging...

She made this bed and she can sleep in it. She has shown herself to be incompetent and an opportunist.

[Akicita]

33. Yeah but whether they are innocent or guilty, she will get credit in many quarters for going after

the cops. As you can see on this thread guilt or innocence is almost an afterthought to many. It's the agenda that really matters.

[gladium et scutum]

38. Sorta like Mike Nifong

got credit for the prosecution of the Duke University Lacrosse players?

[Akicita]

40. That didn't end well for him did it.

Something tells me that won't happen with Moby unless she is successfully sued by the cops for wrongful prosecution.

[Calista241]

7. Maybe the prosecution should try to prove that

Maybe a crime took place. That would help.

[reflection]

10. Outrageous. n/t

[forest444]

11. They could have probably killed him in broad daylight, and the ruling would have been the same.

[Yupster]

12. This should have been easy

There are video cameras all over the city.

If there was a rough ride there should have been plenty of witnesses and video of it.

[Indydem]

16. And yet there is no conviction.

It says more about the prosecutor and this show trial than it does about the officers.

[Akicita]

19. Good point. Any news on whether such a video searc was conducted or if witnesses of the

supposed rough ride ever came forward? Is there any proof at all that a rough ride occurred?

[Nye Bevan]

20. There was video, and none of the video showed a rough ride.

And the other prisoner who was transported in the van described the ride as "smooth", but did say that Gray was banging his own head against the wall.

This was classic prosecutorial overreach that never should have gone so far as a trial.

[Akicita]

25. Appears you may be right.

[alarimer]

14. I don't get this at all.

How does a guy end up with his spine FUCKING SHATTERED? This kind of "ride" needs to be eliminated.

Even if it was not deliberate, it is still a travesty. Cops need to be held responsible for their actions if someone is injured in their custody. It's that simple. Fuck these MONSTERS. They are a menace and they SHOULD be in prison. Failing that, they need to be completely barred from any sort of law-enforcement responsibilities.

I can only guess that the prosecution deliberately did a shitty job. They should lose their jobs as well. Fuck those monsters too.

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

15. But there was no proof that such a ride took place

The prosecution even attempted to use a video of a wide turn as evidence that the ride caused the injuries, but the judge rightly questioned whether or not a sharp turn would have been more likely to cause injuries.

Something happened, but without proof, you can't convict any one particular person. That's just the bedrock foundation of our justice system.

The family has been awarded a large settlement because we know Gray died in their custody. What we don't know is how it happened and who harmed him. Unfortunately, you can't just throw a dart at a wall filled with pictures of the officers, and say "This one's guilty." And you can't convict everyone because they had some association with the case.

Unfortunately, we may have to be satisfied with the large settlement Gray's family received, and the termination of these officers careers. I don't see any of them continuing to work in LE.

[Akicita]

21. Other than the injuries, is there any evidence or proof that a "rough ride" occurred?

Last edited Thu Jun 23, 2016, 01:44 PM - Edit history (1)

The AA DA appeared to be solidly on the side of the victim. She is more likely to be totally inept than deliberately doing a shitty job. Someone on this thread pointed out that there should have been lots of security video available and witnesses along the "rough ride" route if a rough ride actually occurred. Did the DA ever search for such evidence and what was the result? I agree the DA should lose her job over this debacle.

[Crepuscular]

17. ...

Incompetent prosecutor who way over-charged. Now 0 for 3, the other cases should be dismissed.

[LittleGirl]

22. He was unable to walk as they put him in the truck

so somebody needs to be held responsible!

yeah right...so sad for his family.

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

32. Unfortunately, it's not that uncommon

for someone in custody to refuse to walk or pretend they can't walk. When everyone else who's acted like that proved to be fine, you just assume the next one is fine, as well. It's human nature.

[yellowcanine]

23. The prosecution did not prove their case.

You can't just declare someone guilty of murder without proof.

[TexasBushwhacker]

26. The expert witness confirmed

that he saw no evidence of a "rough ride".

Should they have buckled him in with a seat belt? Of course. But the officer being tried was not the one resposible for buckling in Gray.

[TipTok]

31. Wasn't that an expert for the prosecution?

Mosby should be toast....

[TexasBushwhacker]

34. I agree, however she would have been damned if she didn't

prosecute. She should have chosen the charges better. As for the cops, no matter how much Gray was thashing about, they should have been able to buckle him in with the seat belt.

[uppityperson]

24. rec for wider exposure, not because it is good.

[rexcat]

35. I am not surprised by the verdict...

but I am disappointed. Just more proof the judiciary in this country is biased and corrupt. No judge is going to rule against a police officer if they can help it because he won't get any cooperation from the police (because they are also corrupt).

[Feeling the Bern]

36. No we aren't. This is the new norm in the United Police States of America

[rockfordfile]

37. People need to really stand up to the Police violence or they will keep doing it

[duhneece]

39. I am so weary

How long, how long?