On March 29, Allen Bullock will receive a jail sentence pursuant to a plea deal entered in Baltimore Circuit Court on February 29. Nineteen year old Allen Bullock was charged in April of last year with eight counts of rioting, disorderly conduct and malicious destruction of property following the death of Freddie Gray, his friend. Bullock is seen in a photograph standing on top of a police car smashing a windshield with a cone during a protest. No one was hurt. Bullock says the death of his friend, Gray, got the best of him. Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby’s office offered Bullock more than 9 years if he would plead guilty. Bullock and his attorney, J. Wyndal Gordon, declined that plea deal. Over nine years in jail for, in essence, busting a police car window—are you kidding me? As a former prosecutor, that doesn’t sound fair and just to me. Obviously, the Baltimore State’s Attorney Office wants to make an example of Bullock but for what reason, I’m not … [Read more...] about Freddie Gray’s Friend To Get Jail while Officers Cases in Limbo
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Are the Baltimore Police Officer Cases Going Down a Dark Hole?
On February 4, Baltimore prosecutors appealed Judge Barry Williams’ decision that William Porter cannot be compelled to testify in the upcoming trial of officer Edward Nero charged with misdemeanor assault of Freddie Gray. For those who are not keeping score, 6 officers are charged. Three officers, William Porter, Caesar Goodson, Jr. and Alicia White are primarily charged with manslaughter with the van driver, Goodson being also charged for second degree murder. Porter’s case ended in a hung jury. Three arresting officers, including Edward Nero, William Garrett and Lt. Brian Rice are charged with misdemeanor assault, misconduct in office and other misdemeanors. Nero’s case was set to begin February 22 until the State decided to appeal Judge Williams’ ruling. Goodson and White’s trials are already on hold pending an appeal decision. Defense attorneys appealed Williams' ruling in those two cases. The trial against William Porter ended in a hung jury in December. … [Read more...] about Are the Baltimore Police Officer Cases Going Down a Dark Hole?
Prosecution of Baltimore Police Officer’s Case on Life Support
The hung jury in December of William Porter’s trial raises critical issues for the prosecution in trying the van driver, Caesar Goodson, for the death of Freddie Gray. Goodson’s trial scheduled to start on January 11, was postponed on the same day by the Maryland Court of Special Appeals pending rulings on whether Porter must testify in the case. The prosecution’s cases of the 6 Baltimore police officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray are difficult ones to prove. As a former Baltimore prosecutor, I know the challenges of proving a homicide case based on circumstantial evidence. Despite much of the perception of a slam dunk case for a conviction, without video, a confession and any eyewitnesses other than the involved police officers and another detainee in the van, Donta Allen, who testified as a defense witness for the police, the prosecution always faced an uphill battle. On April 12, police arrested Freddie Gray and placed him in a police van driven by … [Read more...] about Prosecution of Baltimore Police Officer’s Case on Life Support
5 Things to Watch in Freddie Gray Police Officer Case
Every coin has two sides and every case has two sides to the story. There are several key things to watch carefully in the William Porter case. First the jury’s first introduction to the case is with the State’s opening statements. While openings are not evidence in any case, they set the tone for what might happen. And jury consultants often teach trial lawyers that jurors often decide a case on the opening statements and then look towards evidence that will validate their feelings from the opening. A well- spoken opening statement outlining the case in graphic, eloquent manner is crucial to either side. And Deputy State’s Attorney Michael Schatzow emotionally appealed to the jury with words to describe how Freddie Gray entered the van and then how he left the van—saying Gray could walk, talk, breath and run before he got in the Baltimore police van. Gray left the van unconscious clinging for his life and died a week later. As for the two sides of the coin, the cross … [Read more...] about 5 Things to Watch in Freddie Gray Police Officer Case
Tamar Rice Never Stood a Chance with Police
Justice is often elusive when it comes to blacks killed or injured by police whether 12 years old or 112. So it should come as no surprise when two reports issued over the weekend indicate the same will likely be true for 12 year old Tamir Rice. Tamir was shot and killed on November 22, 2014 by police officer Loehmann while he was playing with a toy gun in a Cleveland Park. A 911 call alerted that someone probably a “juvenile” with a “fake gun” was in the park. Tamir was holding a toy gun and killed within seconds of the officer arriving on the scene to investigate. And like so many before him, these reports indicate the officer was acting reasonably when Tamir was shot. The reports and passage of time since Tamir’s death leads one to almost conclude that once again justice will be denied without an indictment, arrest or trial. Two reports, both commissioned by the Cleveland prosecutor’s office came to the same result—that the officer acted reasonable in shooting and killing Tamir … [Read more...] about Tamar Rice Never Stood a Chance with Police
Here’s Why the Freddie Gray Case will Stay in Baltimore
After reading hundreds of pages filed by both sides and hearing oral arguments by the attorneys on whether to remove the trial of the 6 officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray, Judge Barry Williams on September 10, 2015 declined to remove the trial to another location. The police officers argued that pretrial publicity made it virtually impossible for the officers to receive a fair trial in Baltimore. Most of the defense arguments by attorney Ivan Bates, who argued for all 6 officers, rested on speculation on what potential jurors feel about the case from media. Judge Williams addressed all of the issues involved including the comments made by the prosecutor in bringing charges, comments by the Mayor and former Police Commissioner Anthony Batts, the riots, curfew, settlement of the civil case and leaks in the media about the case. A fair trial is paramount to our criminal justice system. It is also important as Judge Williams referenced that these defendants … [Read more...] about Here’s Why the Freddie Gray Case will Stay in Baltimore