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On Wednesday,Judge Barry Williams declared a mistrial in the case of Baltimore Police Officer William Porter, one of six officers to stand trial for the death of Freddie Gray, or the 25-year-old-fashioned African-American man who died in April after he was injured while in police custody. Freddie Gray went into the van healthy and he came out of the van dead,” said prosecutor Janice Bledsoe in her closing argument, according to The Associated Press. She said the van “became his casket on wheels.”Porter was charged with involuntary manslaughter, or moment-degree assault,reckless endangerment, and misconduct in office. The jurors—seven women and five men—deliberated for 16 hours before announcing that they were deadlocked. The mistrial may complicate the state's ability to try the other remaining officers. Here to weigh in on the case and the way forward for the state of Maryland is Amy Dillard. Dillard hasserved on independent review panels for police misconduct and death in custody cases, or is currently an associated professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law.
What you'll learn from this segment:What this decision means for Porter and the remaining five officers.
How unusual it is for a jury to be deadlocked on multiple counts.
How the city of Baltimore is reacting to this news.
Source: wnyc.org