Breaking news: Freddie Gray's death ruled a homicde, 6 police officers charged

[telemann.livejournal.com]

Baltimore State's Attorney: “We Have Probable Cause To File Criminal Charges” Over Freddie Gray's Death; police union cries foul.

Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby gave an update on the investigation into the death of Freddie Gray, the 25-year-old who died after suffering a spinal cord injury while in police custody in April, calling his death a homicide. "We have probable cause to file criminal charges," Mosby said in a press conference Friday.

Charges including second degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and assault, among others, will be filed against the officers involved in Gray's arrest, Mosby said. The New York Times' Alan Blinder tweeted out a photo of the documents listing the charges for each of the six officers:



The Baltimore chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police, the officers’ union, defended the officers’ conduct, and called on Ms. Mosby to remove herself from the case and hand it over to a special prosecutor — an idea she dismissed out of hand. “As tragic as this situation is, none of the officers involved are responsible for the death of Mr. Gray,” Gene Ryan, president of the union chapter, wrote in an open letter to the state’s attorney.

Mr. Ryan argued that Ms. Mosby had conflicts of interest, including the fact that she has been supported politically by William H. Murphy Jr., the lawyer for Mr. Gray’s family. He also noted that her husband is a city councilman, and said his “political future will be directly impacted, for better or worse, by the outcome of your investigation.”

     

More at the New York Time's coverage.

Comments

[hardblue.livejournal.com]

Have they debunked the alternative story, supposedly supported by witnesses, that Gray broke his own spine and killed himself? Or is this the contest of stories that the trial will be arguing over?

[telemann.livejournal.com]

Given the charges are pending, those stories about him killing himself I assume are debunked (and they seemed to be serious grasping at straws. But I'm sure the officers defense attorneys will try to use this in a trial as a way to prevent a conviction. A witness in the van has said the suicide story is bullshit too.

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2015/04/30/wjz-exclusive-the-other-man-in-the-van-with-freddie-gray-breaks-his-silence/

There are also bullshit rumors that Mr. Gray had a previous spinal cord injury, car injuries, etc etc etc. (http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-gray-settlement-20150429-story.html)

[hindustar.livejournal.com]

I wish I could be shocked at the lengths some people will go to exonerate police, or demean a dead black person.

[yes-justice.livejournal.com]

I argued with someone tonight who seriously buys the cops story about him crushing his own neck.