EMCE balls deep 89740 Posts user info edit post |
The Lt. was found not guilty on all charges. 7/18/2016 10:57:18 AM |
synapse play so hard 60929 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | "Lt. Brian Rice faced charges of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office. He opted for a bench trial by Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Barry Williams.
The judge previously dismissed a second-degree assault charge, and prosecutors dropped a second misconduct charge against the 42-year-old officer, who is white.
Rice's failure to seatbelt Gray, Williams said, may have been an error in judgment and a violation of updated policy -- but the judge found prosecutors failed to prove it rose to a criminal level.
"The state failed to show that the defendant, even if he was aware of the risk, consciously disregarded that risk," the judge said." |
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/07/18/highest-ranking-officer-charged-in-freddie-gray-case-acquitted-on-all-counts.html
[Edited on July 18, 2016 at 11:42 AM. Reason : ]7/18/2016 11:42:09 AM |
synapse play so hard 60929 Posts user info edit post |
Remaining charges being dropped.
So guess no big deal eh? Nothing to see here move along please.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/freddie-gray/bs-md-ci-miller-pretrial-motions-20160727-story.html 7/27/2016 10:26:18 AM |
afripino All American 11375 Posts user info edit post |
apparently he killed himself 7/27/2016 10:48:37 AM |
EMCE balls deep 89740 Posts user info edit post |
Yep, no one killed him. He just spontaneously snapped his own spinal cord 7/27/2016 12:26:48 PM |
synapse play so hard 60929 Posts user info edit post |
He was probably really upset about getting arrested. 7/27/2016 12:31:04 PM |
eleusis All American 24527 Posts user info edit post |
The DA was too concerned with launching her political career to be bothered building a case against anyone. 7/27/2016 2:23:04 PM |
Kurtis636 All American 14984 Posts user info edit post |
^ Partly. Way too often in highly politicized or high profile cases like this the DA overcharges. This was clearly the case here.
I sometimes wonder if they overcharged on purpose. It serves the dual role of mollifying the public by saying, hey look we're pressing charges but keeps that cozy police/prosecutor relationship intact because they either don't zealously pursue a conviction or can't meet the burden of proof needed for the charges they sought.
It's a shame that none of these cops are going to see any prison time, but it's not the judge's fault. This goes squarely on the DA. 7/27/2016 8:45:50 PM |
synapse play so hard 60929 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | "can't meet the burden of proof needed for the charges they sought. " |
That speaks to the heavier charge of 2nd degree murder, but they couldn't prove reckless endangerment as charged? Involuntary manslaughter? This case seems to perfectly fit the definition of involuntary manslaughter. Only one officer was over-charged with murder, others were manslaughter at worst and down.]7/27/2016 8:51:56 PM |
Kurtis636 All American 14984 Posts user info edit post |
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/freddie-gray/bs-md-ci-rice-verdict-20160718-story.html
I mean, apparently not. I don't know the legal definition in Maryland for the various charges they presented, bit based on the fact that they lost every case and dropped the rest it seems like they overcharged. Also, is Maryland a state that does not allow convicting for a lesser charge (ie charged with assault and battery, but found guilty of simple assault) if that's the case then the prosecutors really fucked up. It seems like there was minimal physical evidence, no real eye witness testimony, and they were relying on circumstantial evidence. I think the cops should have been found guilty of something, but I am not sure what they could actually prove.
Prosecutors have a responsibility to charge what they can prove, there was no way the officers were ever going to plead to a lesser charge.
At an absolute bare minimum a couple of them should probably get fired but I'm sure that union protection will keep that from happening.
It looked to me from the cell phone video that he was fucked up before he was ever put in the van, the way he was moaning an dragging his legs is weird, but I guess that wasn't the case. 7/27/2016 9:49:31 PM |
dtownral Suspended 26632 Posts user info edit post |
DA seemed like they prepared for a jury trial for the judge 7/27/2016 9:50:13 PM |
Kurtis636 All American 14984 Posts user info edit post |
Yeah, that too. Judge was clearly much more dispassionate and applied the strict legal definition of each charge, as he should, and wasn't swayed by emotional appeal the way a jury would be.
Here's a good summary of how they fucked up in earlier cases with assault charges for an arrest.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/freddie-gray/bs-md-ci-nero-verdict-20160521-story.html
Pretty good read. The guy wasn't even actively involved in cufflink Gray and was still charged with assault and a few other things.
[Edited on July 27, 2016 at 9:58 PM. Reason : Article] 7/27/2016 9:52:17 PM |
eleusis All American 24527 Posts user info edit post |
^they needed white faces for the mugshot press releases, so 2 of the bike cops were just thrown in for good measure.
I always wondered if the judge believe the DA's office even met the burden of proof to proceed with a trial instead of dismissing it. A dismissal could have left the police officers open for being tried again. Instead, the judge issued a ruling that all but eliminated any chance at a appeal while shitting all over the DA for their horrible strategy and illegal withholding of evidence from the defense. 7/27/2016 11:12:52 PM |
JCE2011 Suspended 5608 Posts user info edit post |
7/29/2016 5:38:48 PM |
eleusis All American 24527 Posts user info edit post |
Do we get to discuss Korryn Gaines now? 8/2/2016 10:34:08 PM |
EMCE balls deep 89740 Posts user info edit post |
Make a new thread. You know how this works 8/2/2016 10:39:11 PM |
synapse play so hard 60929 Posts user info edit post |
^ 8/2/2016 10:43:18 PM |