Baltimore braces for key police verdict, protests today.. Update: ? judge says not guilty...
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stringer bell
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http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/06/23/baltimore-braces-key-police-verdict-protests-today/86278414/
Authorities in Baltimore hoped for the best but prepared for the worst in anticipation of a judge's verdict Thursday on the fate of the police officer facing the most serious charges stemming from the death of Freddie Gray.
Judge Barry Williams was scheduled to rule Thursday morning in the case of Officer Caesar Goodson Jr., who was charged with second-degree depraved-heart murder, manslaughter and other counts in the April 2015 death of Gray, a black man who died in police custody one week after his controversial arrest.
Gray's death set off a series of Black Lives Matter protests across the nation and sometimes violent protests in the majority-black city of more than 600,000 people. Stores were burned and looted, and clashes with police left dozens injured. Since the days following Gray's funeral, however, protests in the city have been mostly calm.
The activist group People's Power Assembly called for a demonstration at the courthouse Thursday. And Carl Dix, with the Revolutionary Communist Party in Baltimore, called for “powerful outpourings of protest, in Baltimore and all across the country” if Goodson is acquitted.
The Maryland National Guard spent several nights on city streets during last year's protests. Spokesman Col. Charles Kohler said the Guard is prepared in case Gov. Larry Hogan decides soldiers are needed again.
Kohler told USA TODAY that Guard leaders have reviewed tactics since those protests. He said the Guard is stressing communication with city and state police.
"We are asking our commanders to reach out to their people to make sure they are ready," Kohler said.
City police spokesman T.J. Smith said leave for city officers had been canceled "out of an abundance of caution," and Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said the city was ready.
Gray was arrested by bicycle officers on April 12, 2015, after he caught their eye and ran. He was shackled and loaded into a van driven by Goodson but was not secured in a seat belt. Gray suffered a severe spinal injury, apparently en route to the police station, and died one week later.
Prosecutors claim Goodson, 46, intentionally gave Gray a rough ride. They say Goodson also was responsible for buckling Gray's seat belt and failed to get Gray medical attention despite his repeated requests. Goodson did not testify, but his lawyers say Gray was kicking and too volatile to buckle in — and that there is no evidence of a rough ride.
Goodson, who is black, is the third officer to stand trial in the case. The trial of Officer William Porter, who also is black, ended with a hung jury and will be retried. Officer Edward Nero, who is white, was acquitted of all charges by Williams, who is black, in a bench trial last month. The other three officers, one black and two white, face trials later this year.
In September, the city announced a $6.4 million settlement with Gray's family.
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Verdict is in...Not Guilty...shocking (not really)
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Based on how the charges were presented this more than likely made the jury have no other choice than to go with a not guilty.
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Ajackson17 wrote: »White People are happy for this decision....
Fixed... -
5th Letter wrote: »Based on how the charges were presented this more than likely made the jury have no other choice than to go with a not guilty.
These wasn't a jury trial it was a judge trial... -
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Got damn!!
So who the ? broke his neck & killed him??
Criminal justice system is woat. -
Some shucker and jivers are happy too.. That black man for 2nd time in Baltimore got he's neck broken.. And the pigs that did it weren't held responsible... -
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They trying to make an example out of Mosby.
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stringer bell wrote: »Ajackson17 wrote: »White People are happy for this decision....
Fixed...
Right -
the dukester wrote: »Got damn!!
So who the ? broke his neck & killed him??
Criminal justice system is woat.
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Y'all gotta understand how this works. The prosecution and the defense often collude beforehand to decide what charges are going to be brought up. And in cases like this - where they don't want the city to eat itself a live with riots and ? - they'll often agree on a charge that the prosecution KNOWS that they can't prove beyond a reasonable doubt.
The guy gets charged with murder, everyone is happy or at least cautiously optimistic assuming that there is some chance at justice, and then the prosecution fails to prove its case - which was the intent all along - and the guy walks.
This ? is chess, not checkers. And ? like this isn't a glitch in the Matrix, it's a function of the Matrix. This is exactly how the system was designed to work. SMH. -
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stringer bell wrote: »5th Letter wrote: »Based on how the charges were presented this more than likely made the jury have no other choice than to go with a not guilty.
These wasn't a jury trial it was a judge trial...
Welp that changes everything. -
This is ? up but i really hope there are no riots
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Protest for 3 days. Wait for the next tragedy, rinse and repeat. They know the game, we know the game. Everyone accepts it as a resolution now. Maybe it's time to think beyond protests, I don't see what goes on behind the scenes though, so maybe people already are.
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This will continue to build; police ? innocent, unarmed black men and women, only so much can give before the major backlash. I truly expect a purge-like type of situation will come.
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Bide your time good men. When the world is in disarray we'll get our revenge and some.
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