Jury Selection Underway In Trial For Officer William Porter
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- It's day one of the first Freddie Gray trial. The process of selecting the jury for the trial of Baltimore police officer William Porter began, but it is not complete.
Porter is charged with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault and misconduct in office in connection with the death of Freddie Gray.
WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren was inside the courtroom.
Officer William Porter's trial is the biggest Baltimore has seen in decades, and jury selection moved fast, with a panel of roughly 70 potential jurors.
All of them said they are aware of the case and the Gray family's $6.4 million civil settlement with the city.
"Whatever the verdict is, I'm confident the citizens of Baltimore City are going to understand why the violence is not necessary, why it's absolutely counterproductive to the heart and soul of this city," said Billy Murphy, Gray family lawyer.
You could clearly hear protesters on the street while jurors were inside the courtroom on the fourth floor. Some legal analysts say that's troubling.
"If we're trying to empanel fair and partial jurors, it's very challenging to do that, certainly, when you have people screaming and yelling underneath the window where they're sitting," said legal analyst Warren Alperstein.
Porter faces assault, manslaughter and misconduct in office charges.
Gray died in April from severe spinal cord injuries following his arrest.
Prosecutors say police gave Gray a 45-minute rough ride in a van and contend Gray asked Officer Porter for medical help, but Porter refused, thinking Gray was faking his injuries.
Porter is expected to testify in his own defense.
"This is one of the first times that I know of, and I think most people, that a police or police officers have been brought to justice," said Tessa Hill-Aston, NAACP, Baltimore branch.
Porter has pleaded not guilty.
The judge told potential jurors the trials would be over by December 17.
"This case is so significant. It's so different than any other case," said Alperstein.
When jurors were asked whether they had strong feelings about police misconduct in office, 26 of them stood up.
Officer Porter was very active in the courtroom on Monday.