Autopsy Shows Gray Suffered 'High-Energy' Injury
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- More details on what may have happened to Freddie Gray inside a police transport van. The autopsy report obtained exclusively by our news partners The Baltimore Sun reveals Gray suffered a "high-energy injury."
Christie Ileto has details on the autopsy report and what this could mean for the October trial.
Freddie Gray died from spinal injuries he got while in police custody.
Now his autopsy report, exclusively obtained by our news partners at The Baltimore Sun, reveals he suffered a "high-energy injury" inside the police van, ruling his death a homicide because officers failed to follow safety guidelines "through acts of omission."
"All that they were able to say is that it couldn't be ruled an accident in terms of manner of death," said Adam Ruther, Rosenberg Martin Greenberg, LLP.
The medical examiner says Gray was placed into the van on his stomach, was not strapped in and that his wrists and ankles were restrained, which may have put him at risk for injury while trying to stand or if the van suddenly changed speed.
Adam Ruther is a former assistant state's attorney for Baltimore City.
"That makes for a very challenging trial because, again, it's the state's burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt what happened in the back of that van and who caused the death of Freddie Gray," said Ruther.
Ileto: "And this autopsy report doesn't really clarify that?"
Ruther: "If you think about it, how could it? That, ultimately, will be the jury's decision."
Attorneys for the six officers who this week pleaded not guilty say they haven't seen the report.
Marilyn Mosby's office says they did not release the autopsy and strongly condemn leaking information.
"I want to make it very clear that the State's Attorney's Office did not release the Freddie Gray autopsy report. As I have repeatedly stated, I strongly condemn anyone with access to trial evidence who has leaked information prior to the resolution of this case."
"What the autopsy report can't really tell is what was the human conduct that resulted in that injury?" said Ruther.
And that's been the mystery since Gray died.
The autopsy report has not been made public. The Baltimore Sun says its reporters obtained a copy from a source, who had to remain anonymous.