Baltimore police officer Edward Nero found not guilty in Freddie Gray death

[Tennis]

A Baltimore officer was acquitted Monday of assault and other charges in the arrest of Freddie Gray, dealing prosecutors a significant blow in their attempt to hold police accountable for the young black man's death from injuries he suffered in the back of a police van.

Baltimore Circuit Judge Barry Williams also found Edward Nero, 30, not guilty of reckless endangerment and misconduct in office. As the verdict was read, Nero dropped his head down and his attorney placed a hand on his back. The courtroom was quiet. Nero stood up and hugged his attorney, and was visibly emotional.

Protesters chased Nero as he left the courthouse, yelling "guilty" and "murderer," said CBC's Meagan Fitzpatrick, reporting from the scene.


"He was being escorted by a Baltimore sheriff and the crowd of protesters literally followed him down the street. It was getting rather heated as they followed him into the parking garage," Fitzpatrick said.

The city's police force cancelled all previously scheduled time off for officers, telling them to be on standby in case there is any unrest, she added.

The assault charge carried a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and reckless endangerment carried a punishment of up to five years.

Gray died April 19, 2015, a week after his neck was broken in the back of a police transport van while he was handcuffed and shackled but left unrestrained by a seat belt.
Trial by judge, not jury

Nero was one of six officers charged in the case. He waived his right to a jury trial, opting instead to argue his case before Williams. A jury trial was held for officer William Porter late last year, and the panel could not reach a decision on manslaughter and other charges.
freddie gray

Gray, 25, was arrested on the morning of April 12, 2015, for possessing a switchblade knife outside a housing project on Baltimore's west side. (Family photo/Murphy, Falcon & Murphy)

Gray's death set off more than a week of protests followed by looting, rioting and arson that prompted a citywide curfew. His name became a rallying cry in the growing national conversation about the treatment of black men by police officers.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said in a statement that Nero will still face an administrative review by the police department.

"We once again ask the citizens to be patient and to allow the entire process to come to a conclusion. In the case of any disturbance in the city, we are prepared to respond. We will protect our neighbourhoods, our businesses and the people of our city," she said.

William H. Murphy Jr., lawyer for the Gray family, told Fitzpatrick that the judge analyzed the evidence fairly in the case.

One local state lawmaker, who was in court while the verdict was being read, said the judge presented a "well-reasoned argument."

"The judge in the case was really good at explaining exactly what it was that caused him to find that the state did not meet his burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt to find the officer guilty," Curt Anderson said.
Officer did not use seatbelt in van

Prosecutors said Nero unlawfully detained Gray and acted callously when he made a decision not to buckle Gray into a seat belt when he was loaded into the back of a transport vehicle.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/baltimo...eath-1.3596368

Wow.
This is shameful. What is going on with the legal system?

[primalmatter]

So a man was found innocent? I don't get why this is news worthy.

[Tennis]

So a man was found innocent? I don't get why this is news worthy.

This is the top story on CBC. Very newsworthy.
Might need to reassess your priorities.

[crakerjack]

Is there video footage? If not then there's not enough evidence to prove he did anything. The trial then turns into a he said she said argument.

[Jotaux]

So a man was found innocent? I don't get why this is news worthy.

It's an event that sparked the Baltimore riots, I don't see how it isn't newsworthy.

Is this the guy that tried to grab an officer's gun? I can't remember. Do you have a non-CBC source for this Tennisace? I prefer not to get my news from a source that admits to burying interviews if they don't fit the narative.

[Deleted]

Innocent man was found innocent, the legal system works just fine it seems.

In other words, another Tennisace troll topic.

[primalmatter]

This is the top story on CBC. Very newsworthy.
Might need to reassess your priorities.

Not really. A jury of his peers reviewed hos case and did not find anything proving beyond a reasonable doubt he was guilty. What is news worthy about this? The fact that people against innocent until proven guilty might riot again?

[Polyxo]

Was there a listed reason for his being determined not guilty? I know it's not required to be stated, but I'd like to know the rationale. It would seem obvious that if he did what it was suggested they did, he would be guilty.

As an aside, do all Tennisace threads have an angry face, even if the thread is not something he is angry about? Like will he post something like " I have a new puppy, here's some pics!"

[Jotaux]

Not really. A jury of his peers reviewed hos case and did not find anything proving beyond a reasonable doubt he was guilty. What is news worthy about this? The fact that people against innocent until proven guilty might riot again?

And I think his life being in danger after the court case is newsworthy as well, showing the level people will stoop to.

[WskyDK]

Baltimore is gonna burn again

[Jotaux]

Was there a listed reason for his being determined not guilty? I know it's not required to be stated, but I'd like to know the rationale. It would seem obvious that if he did what it was suggested they did, he would be guilty.

As an aside, do all Tennisace threads have an angry face, even if the thread is not something he is angry about? Like will he post something like " I have a new puppy, here's some pics!"

No he uses sunglass face as well.

[apples]

Was there a listed reason for his being determined not guilty? I know it's not required to be stated, but I'd like to know the rationale. It would seem obvious that if he did what it was suggested they did, he would be guilty.

As an aside, do all Tennisace threads have an angry face, even if the thread is not something he is angry about? Like will he post something like " I have a new puppy, here's some pics!"

he was found not guilty because a judge thought he acted like any reasonable person should in accordance to his defense

the judge will probably release a summary but you can feel free to read the court transcript as they are always public record

[primalmatter]

And I think his life being in danger after the court case is newsworthy as well, showing the level people will stoop to.

Now, now we can't blame those "people" criticizing their group is racist. We just have to accept a community might be burned to the ground this week because a man had the audacity to not accept he was guilty the moment he was accused.

[Altrec]

Funny thing is that the guy being mobbed as he left the courthouse was actually just a decoy. Seems like the rest of these cases will likely being ending in the same result. Supposedly this officer and the one who's cases ended in a hung jury back in December were the strongest cases of the six that were charged, but it seems even then there was little if any evidence of wrong doing.

[Lenonis]

Baltimore is gonna burn again

Unfortunately this is probably the case. Not a place I'd want to be right now.

If the courts found him not guilty either the prosecution did a bad job or the guy was actually not guilty.

The reality is the judicial system has a history of being reluctant to convict police officers. It was likely an uphill battle so any holes, gaps, or questionable interpretation of evidence likely played in the defense's favor more than usual.

[Tennis]

It's an event that sparked the Baltimore riots, I don't see how it isn't newsworthy.

Is this the guy that tried to grab an officer's gun? I can't remember. Do you have a non-CBC source for this Tennisace? I prefer not to get my news from a source that admits to burying interviews if they don't fit the narative.

Us Canadians should support Canadian news websites.

[triplesdsu]

The prosecutors argument in this particular case were sad. I can see why they went grand jury, they would never have gotten a finding of probable cause at a prelim. This is what you get when you try to mix politics with justice and appeal the idiotic masses.

[apples]

Unfortunately this is probably the case. Not a place I'd want to be right now.

If the courts found him not guilty either the prosecution did a bad job or the guy was actually not guilty.

The reality is juries have a history of being reluctant to convict police officers. It was likely an uphill battle so any holes, gaps, or questionable interpretation of evidence likely played in the defense's favor more than usual.

it wasnt a jury trial

3rd line of the OP lol

[Jotaux]

Now, now we can't blame those "people" criticizing their group is racist. We just have to accept a community might be burned to the ground this week because a man had the audacity to not accept he was guilty the moment he was accused.

Well I avoided naming them because that is an instant lock of the thread.

[zenkai]

Good, he knew he did anything wrong which is why he didn't need a jury.