[UPDATE: The official transcript of Judge Williams’ decision has been embedded below. Thanks to commenter amwick.]
Like a Baltimore State’s Attorney version of the movie “Groundhog Day,” the fourth of the Freddie Gray trials has once again failed to achieve a conviction on even a single charge, according to Baltimore Sun reporters Kevin Rector and Justin Fenton:
This time Lt. Brian Rice was acquitted of charges involuntary manslaughter, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment. An assault-related charge of misconduct-in-office was dropped by prosecutors at the start of the trial and a charge of second-degree assault was dropped by Circuit Judge Barry Williams after the state rested.
Previous Freddie Gray trials have resulted in one hung jury in the trial of Officer William Porter, and two bench trial acquittals in the cases of Officers Edward Nero and Caesar Goodson. Still awaiting trial are Officer Garrett Miller and Sergeant Alicia White. State prosecutors have also scheduled a re-trial of Officer Porter.
The state’s theory of the case has only grown weaker and more laughable with each successive trial, and there is no reason to believe that the prospects for conviction will be any greater in those trials still to come than they have been previously.
Indeed, one cannot help but wonder whether State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby has some motive other than criminal justice in persevering in her prosecutions of these officers when the overwhelming weight of the evidence not only indicates they did nothing criminal but that they their conduct was clearly that of reasonable officers on the scene.
Legal Insurrection has covered all the Freddie Gray trials in depth, and our prior posts can most conveniently be found by clicking here.
More details to follow on Judge Williams’ acquittal of Lt. Brian Rice as they become available.
UPDATE: As promised, here is the official transcript of Judge Williams’ decision acquitting Lt. Rice:
–-Andrew, @LawSelfDefense
[Featured image: Baltimore Sun]
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