Prosecution Rests in Officer Porter Trial: Reports

BALTIMORE, MD - Jurors were reportedly dismissed Tuesday afternoon after the prosecution finished calling its witnesses in the case of Officer William Porter, who is charged with manslaughter and other offenses in the death of Freddie Gray.

The 25-year-old Baltimore man died in police custody. After Gray’s funeral in late April, there were riots in parts of Baltimore, drawing the National Guard to help quell the unrest.

Porter, 26, is the first of six officers involved in Gray’s detainment to stand trial. He is charged with manslaughter, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office.

Prosecutors allege Gray’s death was a homicide due to a broken spine in police custody resulting from “gross indifference” by Officer Porter to put him in a seatbelt, Chief Deputy State’s Attorney Michael Schatzow said.

Porter’s lawyers called for a mistrial Monday after it was revealed that Gray complained of a neck injury the month before his death to a police officer, according to The Baltimore Sun.

Judge Barry Williams acknowledged the state failed to disclose evidence in discovery but declined to call for a mistrial and said instead the defense could incorporate that information into its argument, the newspaper reported.

Porter is expected to testify in his own defense when the proceedings continue.

Judge Williams has said the trial will wrap up by Dec. 17.

• Juror Falls Ill in Baltimore Police Trial: Report
• Officer Porter Trial: What Happened, What’s to Come
• Freddie Gray’s Death, Officer’s Charges are ‘Tragic’: Defense
• ‘Gross Indifference’ Claimed in First of Six Freddie Gray Trials