Prosecution Rests Case in Freddie Gray Murder Trial

BALTIMORE, MD — The prosecution rested its case against Officer Caesar Goodson Wednesday in Baltimore City Circuit Court, and attorneys for the policeman have reportedly filed a motion for acquittal.

Prosecutors laid out their case with the argument that Goodson — charged with second-degree depraved-heart murder, among other offenses — drove a Baltimore Police van in such a way that it fatally injured 25-year-old detainee Freddie Gray.

Over the course of five days, the state presented testimony from 22 witnesses, with evidence including a video from the city's closed-circuit television (CCTV) that reportedly did not show Goodson was intentionally driving in a manner that would injure the passenger.

The state called a paramedic to the stand Wednesday who said that when she found Gray after the 44-minute van ride, he was unresponsive, without a pulse, and his neck felt "crumbly like a bag of rocks," according to WJZ. The paramedic said that the officers did not have an answer for what happened.

Assistant Medical Examiner Carol Allan had testified previously that Gray's death was "not an accident" and was a homicide caused by a neck injury.

However, notes from a detective working on the investigation indicated that Allan did discuss the death as accidental, ABC 2 News reported.

Williams is ruling on the case after Goodson requested a bench trial, meaning the judge rather than jury will determine a verdict. Goodson is charged with second-degree depraved-heart murder, manslaughter, second-degree assault, vehicular manslaughter, criminally negligent manslaughter, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment.

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Goodson is the third officer to go to trial of the six charged in connection with the detainment of Gray, who died  on April 19, 2015, one week after he was arrested.

After Gray’s funeral in late April, riots erupted in parts of Baltimore, drawing the National Guard to help quell the unrest. Within days, State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced charges against six officers involved in Gray’s detainment.

So far, the only case that has been ruled upon is that of Officer Edward Nero, who was acquitted.

Officer William Porter's case ended in a mistrial in December.

Four officers are slated to stand trial in the coming months in the Gray case: Lt. Brian Rice on July 5, Officer Garrett Miller on July 27, Officer William Porter on Sept. 6 and Sgt. Alicia White on Oct. 13.