Thursday morning may prove to be a true turning point in the series of trials stemming from the 2015 arrest and subsequent death of Freddie Gray, events which thrust the City of Baltimore into the international spotlight.
As Circuit Judge Barry G. Williams issued a ruling in the case of Officer Caesar Goodson acquitting the officer of murder charges, many observers believe that the fates of the other officers still awaiting trial may be significantly impacted by the outcome.
Closing Arguments Heard Monday
The defense and prosecution teams presented their closing arguments on Monday in the trial of Goodson, the officer charged with the most serious charge of any of the six police defendants. The charge of second-degree depraved heart murder carries with it a possible sentence of 30 years imprisonment, making closing arguments a high-stakes proposition for Goodson’s lawyers.
Chief Deputy State’s Attorney Michael Schatzow and Deputy State’s Attorney Janice Bledsoe focused on the argument that Goodson, as the police transport van driver, placed Gray in the vehicle while shackled, but failed to restrain him in a seat belt during an intentional “rough ride.” These actions, they assert, caused him to suffer severe and indeed fatal spinal cord injuries for which Goodson declined to seek medical attention.
Defense lawyer Matthew Fraling countered the state’s position by arguing the Freddie Gray was the cause of his own injury and death by engaging in erratic, volatile movement while in the transport van, rather than remaining on the floor of the vehicle, where he was originally placed by officers. Defense attorneys further asserted that no outward sign of Gray’s injuries existed which would have alerted Goodson to the serious distress he was actually suffering.
Questioning By Judge Williams May Offer Key Insights
Judge Williams engaged in active questioning of both sides during closing arguments, particularly during Schatzow’s rebuttal to the defense team’s presentation. In particular, Williams seemed to focus on the state’s assertion that Goodson deliberately harmed Gray by taking him on what is known as a “rough ride” while leaving him unrestrained in the van.
Williams wanted the state to explain what actions taken by Goodson constituted a high level of risk for Gray and precisely what evidence had been given to demonstrate that a rough ride truly did occur. Schatzow was also asked to further explicate the prosecution’s position that Goodson committed criminal negligence by not seeking the aid of a medic.
How Acquittal Could Impact Remaining Defendants
Legal observers have suggested that the outcome of this case may have a significant effect on the defendants still waiting for their day in court. With two previous prosecution efforts failing to produce a single conviction, if Goodson is found not guilty, the state will likely face an uphill battle going forward.
Baltimore Defense Attorney Oleg Fastovsky commented, “The fact that Goodson was found not guilty not only affected the strategies of both sides in the upcoming trials of the remaining officers, but it will also add fuel to the lawsuits filed by the officers against Mosby, and could very well lead to more lawsuits and claims.”
Slated for trial later this summer are Lt. Brian Rice, Officer Garrett Miller and Sgt. Alicia White. Officer William Porter, whose first trial ended in a declared mistrial, is scheduled for retrial in September.
