Judge Stays Order for Officer to Testify in Gray Case

BALTIMORE, MD — The Court of Special Appeals for Maryland has stayed the order requiring Officer William Porter to testify in the trials of his fellow Baltimore Police officers charged in the death of a man in police custody.

Gray, a 25-year-old Baltimore man, was arrested, then taken on a 44-minute ride in a police van around west Baltimore after which he was hospitalized. He died a week later, on April 19, 2015, from what prosecutors alleged were spinal injuries suffered in the police van.

Following Gray’s funeral in late April, riots erupted in parts of Baltimore City, drawing the National Guard to help quell the unrest.

Days later, State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced charges against six officers involved in Gray’s detainment: Officer Caesar Goodson, Officer William Porter, Sgt. Alicia White, Officer Garrett Miller, Officer Edward Nero and Lt. Brian Rice.

The first to be tried was Porter, whose case ended in a mistrial last month.

Related:

• 2 Officers in Gray Case to Get New Trial Dates
• Officer Ordered to Testify Against Colleague in Freddie Gray Murder Trial

A Baltimore City Circuit Court judge ordered Wednesday that Porter would have to testify in the upcoming trial of Officer Caesar Goodson.

Judge Barry Williams said Porter could be compelled to testify because prosecutors have offered him immunity in his new trial, scheduled for June.

The ruling put Judge Williams in what he described as “uncharted territory,” since prosecutors may not use any of Officer Porter’s testimony in his own case, The Baltimore Sun reported.

An appellate judge stayed the order Friday, after Porter’s attorney filed an appeal asking for an injunction, stating prosecutors said Porter may be called as a witness as early as Jan. 14. or 15.