Judge to hear arguments on moving Freddie Gray trials
FILE - In a Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015 file photo, Pastor Westley West, from Faith Empowered Ministries, leads protesters as they march towards Pratt Street and the Inner Harbor, in Baltimore. (Lloyd Fox/The Baltimore Sun via AP, File)
BALTIMORE (AP) — A judge was to hear arguments Thursday on whether the trials for six police officers charged in the Freddie Gray case should be held in Baltimore or be moved out of town.
The hearing comes just a day after the city formally approved a $6.4 million settlement for Gray's family and the court proceeding is likely to attract protesters. Police have said they are prepared for any civil unrest that could crop up.
Gray was a 25-year-old black man who died after being fatally injured while in police custody. Attorneys for the officers have said days of protests and riots, a city-wide curfew and other pretrial publicity would taint a jury pool made up of Baltimore residents. Prosecutors believe the trials should be held in the city.
After both sides make arguments, Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Barry Williams is expected to make a decision.
If a change of venue is granted, Chief Administrative Judge Michel Pierson will decide in what county the trials would be held. Williams has already ruled the officers will be tried separately.
Police will have a "soft presence" outside the courthouse — no shields, helmets or riot gear — but all officers are on-call and ready to respond to any unrest, Commissioner Kevin Davis said.
"Officers won't be donned in riot gear," Davis said. "That is something we absolutely won't roll out because we don't want to be provocative or draw a line in the sand. But in the event that a peaceful protest goes south, we'll be prepared to appropriately respond to it."
The officers were indicted in May and face charges ranging from second-degree assault to second-degree murder.
Gray died on April 19, a week after he suffered a critical spinal injury in police custody. His death prompted protests and rioting that shook the city and caused millions of dollars in damage, and has since come to symbolize the broken relationship between the police and the public in Baltimore, and the treatment of black men by police in America.
All six officers, including Edward Nero and Garrett Miller, are charged with second-degree assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment. Lt. Brian Rice, Sgt. Alicia White and Officer William Porter also face a manslaughter charge, while Officer Caesar Goodson faces the most serious charge of all: second-degree "depraved-heart" murder.
The officers are not expected to appear in court. Three of the officers are white. Three are black.