Jurors See Videos Of Gray's Arrest, Look At Police Transport Van
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Another important day of testimony in the trial of Officer William Porter. He is one of six officers accused in the death of Freddie Gray.
Porter is facing charges as manslaughter, assault and misconduct in office.
WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren with the dramatic images shown in and out of court.
The defense tore into some of the prosecution's witnesses, including several police officers, about how the department is run. The prosecution also introduced several cell phone videos that caused a disruption in the courtroom.
Dramatic moments unfolded in the courtroom, as prosecutors let jurors see two cell phone videos of Freddie Gray's arrest and the chaos that followed.
Gray's mother broke down in tears and had to be helped from the courtroom. The judge even stopped proceedings.
Prosecutors played the videos as one of Gray's best friends, who recorded one of them, testified that he called 911 he was so worried about Gray.
And that van, where prosecutors say Gray suffered the injuries that killed him, was towed into the courthouse garage so jurors could see it for themselves.
"We have to wait til all the evidence is in, and that's what the jury's going to be doing," said Doug Colbert, University of Maryland law professor.
"I think the prosecution is making a strong case. But at this point in the trial, that's what you should think, because they're putting on their case in chief," said Tina Forebush, criminal law teacher.
Jurors in the case of Officer William Porter also heard hours of testimony from fellow police officers about the orders they're required to follow, including a policy mandating arrestees be secured with seat belts. Gray wasn't.
During cross-examination, the defense painted a picture of a dysfunctional police department, where those orders were not communicated, rarely followed and there was little accountability.
RELATED: Police Training Practices Scrutinized During Gray Trials
"As far as Mr. Porter is concerned, he's saying that you have all these policies out there, but you don't inform the officers. So how can we adhere to the policy and we're never informed?" former correctional officer Ralph Johnson said.
Some courtroom observers believe this could be a tough case for prosecutors to win.
"It's turned out to be somewhat of a clunker. And if I was to call it today, I'd say it was replete with reasonable doubt. And quite frankly, I just don't think, based upon what I've heard from the witnesses this morning, that it's really going to change much," said J. Wyndal Gordon, lawyer and courtroom observer.
Prosecutors have not said how many more witnesses they plan to call.
The last witness Thursday was Officer Syreeta Teel, the lead investigator for police. She questioned Officer Porter after the incident. Her testimony will resume Friday morning.
Court testimony ended in the middle of her testimony. We'll hear more from her when this resumes Friday.
