Baltimore officer waives jury trial in death of Freddie Gray
Source: Reuters
A Baltimore police officer will be tried by a judge instead of a jury on charges stemming from the 2015 death of Freddie Gray, a black man who died in police custody, a Maryland judge ruled on Tuesday.
Edward Nero, 30, is the second officer to face trial in Baltimore City Circuit Court over Gray's death from a neck injury suffered in a police transport van. The incident sparked rioting and protests across the city of 620,000 and is one of those highlighted by the Black Lives Matter movement.
Nero is charged with second-degree assault, two counts of misconduct in office and reckless endangerment. All are misdemeanors. Five other officers also face charges over Gray's death, ranging from misconduct in office to second-degree murder.
In a pre-trial hearing, Judge Barry Williams granted a request by Nero's lawyers to waive his right to a jury and have Williams decide his fate in a bench trial. Williams warned Nero that it was difficult to reverse his decision.
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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-baltimore-police-idUSKCN0Y115C
World | Tue May 10, 2016 12:24pm EDT
BALTIMORE | BY DONNA OWENS
Ed Suspicious
(8,879 posts)cstanleytech
(26,368 posts)with the emotions of a case than it is a jury.
SusanLarson
(284 posts)He knows that the judges are going to be generally favorable to the police.
TipTok
(2,474 posts)To testify?
moonbabygo
(281 posts)you don't need a jury for that