A Baltimore judge has ordered Officer William Porter, who has been charged in Freddie Gray’s murder, to testify against his colleagues in two upcoming trials.
Last month, a judge declared a mistrial in the case of Porter, who was charged with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in the April death of Freddie Gray. A retrial has been scheduled for June, but in the interim, Judge Barry Williams has ordered Porter to testify against Officer Caesar Goodson Jr., who was driving the police van, and Sgt. Alicia White, reports CNN.
Under the terms of the order, prosecutors are barred from using any information disclosed against Porter in his June trial. However, defense attorneys say that the judge’s orders could negatively affect Porter.
Judge Declares Mistrial for Officer Charged with Freddie Gray’s Death
“No one wants to be in the position of being made by the government to give information that might impact negatively on themselves,” defense attorney Warren Brown said to the Baltimore Sun. “It might open some doors here that might severely impact the right of people to get a fair trial in multi-defendant cases.”
Gray died on April 19, one week after he was arrested for allegedly carrying an illegal switchblade. Attorneys for the case say that officers failed to secure him into the police van, which resulted in Gray suffering a severed spinal cord.
Six officers have been charged in Gray’s death. Jury selection for Goodson’s trial is scheduled to begin next week.