Posted on 12/09/15
| News Source: WBAL
The defense begins its case at the trial of Officer William Porter today.
The prosecution wrapped up its case Tuesday morning after five days and 16 witnesses.
Porter is one of six Baltimore City Police officers charged in the April death of Freddie Gray, who died April 19, one week after suffering injuries in a police transport van following his arrest. Gray's death sparked a week of protests, riots, looting and a state of emergency in Baltimore City.
Porter is charged with involuntary manslaughter, second degree assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office.
The defense is expected to enter into evidence a statement uncovered earlier this week that Freddie Gray gave a detective in March, complaining of a back injury.
The defense believes that injury contributed to Gray’s death. The defense is also expected to put on the stand Donta Allen, who was arrested and loaded into the van with Freddie Gray, and who initially told police that he though Gray was trying to injure himself. He later recanted that story. in interviews with several reporters including WBAL-TV's Jayne Miller
Allen is expected to testify tomorrow. Sheriff's deputies from Baltimore City are traveling to York County, Pennsylvania to get him, where Allen is in jail awaiting trial on theft charges.
The star witness for the defense, Officer Porter himself, who is expected to take the stand. Defense attorney Gary Proctor told jurors last week in his opening statement that Porter would testify.
University of Maryland Carey School of Law Professor Doug Colbert, who has attended every day of the trial, believes Porter will testify last, because he is the defense's strongest witness.
A jury of seven women and five men is hearing the case.
At the start of jury selection last week, Judge Barry Williams told jurors that he would expect the case to conclude no later than Thursday of next week.