Dateline Baltimore — Circuit Judge Barry G. Williams will issue his ruling in the trial of Baltimore Police Officer Caesar Goodson Jr. on Thursday morning, after prosecutors and defense attorneys this morning delivered closing arguments on Mr. Goodson’s alleged culpability in the death of Freddie Gray.
Mr. Goodson, 46, was the driver of the police van in which Mr. Gray suffered fatal spinal cord injuries last year. He faces the most serious charge of the six police officers charged in the case: second-degree depraved heart murder. He also faces three manslaughter counts, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office.
In closing arguments, prosecutors alleged Mr. Goodson repeatedly breached his constitutional and administrative duties to keep Mr. Gray safe. They said he knew of the risk associated with transporting an arrestee in handcuffs and shackles but without a seat belt, refused to call a medic for Mr. Gray when he asked for one, and at one point intentionally sought to injure Mr. Gray in the back of the van.
“As a result of that breach, the life of Freddie Gray was shortened,” said Deputy State’s Attorney Janice Bledsoe.
Both Ms. Bledsoe and Chief Deputy State’s Attorney Michael Schatzow argued Mr. Goodson had at least four opportunities to secure Mr. Gray with a seat belt and never did — compounding his disregard to a criminal degree.
“Nobody is saying it was one time, and it’s depraved heart,” Mr. Schatzow said. “It’s repeatedly.”
Matthew Fraling, Mr. Goodson’s attorney, said in his own closing that Mr. Goodson had acted as a reasonable officer would in all of his interactions with Mr. Gray, and that Mr. Gray “created the high degree of risk” himself by changing his position in the back of the van.
Mr. Fraling accused the prosecution of constantly shifting its theory, ignoring the context of witness testimony and asking the court to arrive at the alleged charges based on conjecture and speculation rather than evidence.
The attorneys are barred by a gag order from commenting on the case outside of court..
This story originally appeared in the www.baltimoresun.com
