Appeals Hearing Set for Freddie Gray Murder Trial

BALTIMORE, MD — The Maryland Court of Special Appeals will hear the case of a Baltimore Police officer who wants to exercise his Fifth Amendment right in a case in which he is also charged.

The appeal will be argued on March 4, according to an order signed by Chief Judge Peter B. Krauser on Tuesday.

What will be reviewed is whether Officer William Porter, 26, may be compelled to testify in the trial of another officer.

Six Baltimore Police officers are charged in the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old who was arrested in April 2015 and died a week later in police custody.

Porter was the first to have his case heard in Baltimore City Circuit Court and the case ended in a mistrial last month because of a hung jury. His trial was rescheduled for June.

Officer Caesar Goodson, 46, stands accused of the most serious offense: second-degree depraved heart murder.

Goodson was driving the police van in which Gray was placed following his arrest.

When the van arrived at the western district police station after a 44-minute ride, authorities said Gray was unconscious.

Gray was taken to a hospital and died a week later, on April 19, 2015, from what prosecutors alleged were spinal injuries he got in the police van.

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Porter testified in his own defense last month, and prosecutors offered him immunity for his testimony in the trial of Goodson.

When Porter said he planned to exercise his Fifth Amendment right, Baltimore Judge Barry Williams ordered him to testify.

Porter’s attorney filed an appeal, which is currently being considered and will be up for debate in March.

In the meantime, Officer Goodson’s trial has been postponed.

Porter must have his brief in by Jan. 26, the state must respond by Feb. 10 and Porter’s attorney may reply by Feb. 22. Then the case will be heard in Annapolis at the Maryland Court of Appeals on March 4.