Prosecution Rests In Goodson Trial; Judge to Rule On Acquittal Motion
BALTIMORE (WJZ) — The prosecution has rested its case in the trial of Officer Caesar Goodson Junior. Goodson is the Baltimore police officer facing the most serious charges in the arrest and death of Freddie Gray.
It comes after another dramatic day of testimony about what happened in the transport van, and a potential bombshell about new evidence.
WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren explains how it could shake up the trial.
The defense has filed a written motion for acquittal. On Thursday morning, the state will have a chance to respond inside the courtroom. The judge will then rule. He could throw out all, part or none of the case.
The state has rested its case against Officer Caesar Goodson Junior after 22 witnesses over five days.
"The state in its opening argument talked quite extensively about a 'rough ride' being given to Freddie Gray by Officer Goodson, the driver of the wagon," said Warren Alperstein, lawyer and courtroom observer. "There was no indication there was a rough ride. There was 45 minutes worth of video surveillance that was presented by a detective in the case, there was no indication whatsoever of a rough ride."
In a blow to prosecutors, the judge will allow detectives' notes into evidence, showing that assistant medical examiner Dr. Carol Allen thought at one point Freddie Gray's death could be an accident.
Allen testified last week the word "accident" never crossed her lips.
"This would be a way for the defense to attack the credibility, but it's not I think a slam dunk that if they have this, they win," said David Jaros, University of Baltimore School of Law.
The judge heard emotional testimony from the paramedic who found Gray unresponsive, and said his neck felt like a crumbly bag of rocks. She screamed at the officers there, saying: "What the [expletive] did you guys do to him?" She says Goodson simply shrugged his shoulders in response.
"The fact that she sort of said, 'What the F have you done?' I don't think should be presumed in any way to mean they had done something," said Jaros.
Prosecutors also heard from Neil Franklin, a former Baltimore cop who reformed police training here. He said Gray should have been secured with a seat belt.
The defense has filed a motion for acquittal. The judge will hear arguments Thursday morning.
"What may be important to some observers may be less important to a judge, and so you just don't know what, ultimately, the judge is going to do," said Alperstein.
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