Man In Police Van With Gray May Testify Thursday
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Robert Lang, WBAL NewsRadio 1090



The defense in the trial of Officer William Porter began Thursday with another medical expert witness as attorneys try to poke holes in the autopsy report of Freddie Gray.

Dr. Matthew Ammerman, a Washington neurosurgeon, showed the jury enlarged pictures of an MRI taken while Gray was in Shock Trauma. He said Gray suffered a "catastrophic and complete" spinal cord injury and said he concluded Gray suffered paralysis and death "in milliseconds." He said it was also impossible for Gray to have suffered that injury before the van's fourth stop, when Porter helped Gray up.

"Even the best medical treatment," Ammerman said, could not have saved Gray's life. Furthermore, he said, it was impossible for Gray to have suffered a seizure--a suggested cause for the banging Donta Allen claimed to have heard in a recanted statement--as a seizure would have required bleeding on the brain, which was not present.

In cross examination, however, Ammerman conceded that in general, medical treatment helps and could have perhaps helped Gray.

After Ammerman came testimony from Charlottesville, VA, police chief Timothy Longo. Longo oversaw the investigation into the death of Cockeysville native Yeardley Love, who was killed by her ex-boyfriend while attending the University of Virginia. Longo said that Porter not buckling Gray in was a reasonable move given the location of Porter's firearm (mentioned in Porter's Wednesday testimony), even if it was a violation of policy.
[......]
This is the day Allen is scheduled to be brought back to Baltimore from York County Pennsylvania, where he is awaiting trial in a theft and forgery case. Allen was loaded into the same police van as Freddie Gray in the 1600 block of West North Avenue, when he was arrested for possession of marijuana.

This was the fifth of six stops the van made. Allen and were separated by a partition in the van, and Allen told police he thought he heard Freddie Gray try to injure himself. Allen later recanted.

It is not known when Allen will testify. The defense says Gray’s injuries occurred after this stop, and before the van reached the Western District police station.

The prosecution says it occurred earlier.

....more at link
http://www.wbal.com/article/129266/2/de ... rter-trial

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Robert Lang
UPDATE: There are reports Donta Allen was brought to court today, but we haven;'t confirmed that on our own

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Robert Lang
UPDATE: Jury sent home for the day at 4:23 this afternoon. When I left courtroom, lawyers were conferring with judge

UPDATE: #PorterTrial adjourned (Jury part) until 9:15 tomorrow morning

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Robert Lang
So far the defense has called 7 witnesses to testify in #PorterTrial . #FreddieGray

UPDATE: Defense presented four witnesses today, added to three yesterday, seven overall. Defense will continue case tomorrow

Officer Matthew Wood with the western district was last witness of the day for the defense of #PorterTrial

Donta Allen, the second arrestee in the van with #FreddieGray , did not take the stand Thursday. #PorterTrial

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Defense rests in trial of Officer William Porter
Porter's mother takes stand in officer's trial
UPDATED 12:37 PM EST Dec 11, 2015

[....]
Before resting its case, a mix of character witnesses and a police policy expert testified, including his mother.

Porter's mother, Helena Porter, called her son a nice, honest guy.

"He likes to keep the peace. He's a peacemaker in any situation that goes down," Helena Porter said of her son.

The defense also called other character witnesses Friday. Renea Sumerville, a Howard County corrections employee and a longtime friend of Porter, said Porter is like a grandson to her. She called him very honest, an outstanding member of the community, a giver and someone with a great heart.

Angela Gibson, a friend and former college classmate of Porter, said Porter is very honest and truthful because he cares about people.

Another Porter friend, Devon Scott, said Porter is a truthful and peaceful person.

Prosecutors countered the character witnesses by pointing out that none saw Porter when he was working.

...more at link
http://www.wbaltv.com/news/porters-moth ... Type=Story

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

In all, defense called 12 witnesses. Last one was Porter's mother Helena. #PorterTrial.

(Donta Allen not called)

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

The defense rests in the trial William Porter. Judge Williams says trial we restart Monday, likely closing arguments

No word yet on whether either side will call rebuttal witnesses in #portertrial

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Court spokesperson says prosecutors have declined to call rebuttal witnesses.

So.... closing arguments Monday

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

UPDATE: Defense Rests in Porter Trial
Friday, December 11, 2015
Robert Lang and Tyler Waldman, WBAL NewsRadio 1090

The defense has rested its case in the trial of Officer William Porter.

Over the last three days, the defense presented 12 witnesses, before resting its case just before 12:30 this afternoon.

Judge Barry Williams dismissed the jury of seven women and five men for the weekend, and order attorneys for both sides back into the courtroom at 2:30 to address and resolve legal issues.

Today, the defense called four character witnesses including Porter’s Mother Helena, who called her someone "who likes to keep the peace and is a peacemaker. "

The only non-character witness who testified was Baltimore City Police Capt. Justin Reynolds, who testified as an expert on city police training procedures.



...more at link
http://www.wbal.com/article/129479

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Leave Cancelled For Baltimore Officers Ahead Of Porter Verdict
December 11, 2015 11:08 PM

BALTIMORE (WJZ)—Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis has cancelled leave next week as final preparations get underway in the trial for one of six officers charged in the Freddie Gray case.

In order to ensure adequate staffing, Davis says leave has been cancelled from Monday, December 14, 2015 through Friday, December 18th.

Officials say all sworn personnel will be assigned 12-hour shifts.

“The community has an expectation for us to be prepared for a variety of scenarios,” said Police Commissioner Kevin Davis. “This cancellation is part of preparedness, just as our ongoing community collaboration efforts that were highlighted this week at the Unity Press Conference.”

...more at link
http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2015/12/1 ... r-verdict/

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Trial... Jury Instructions and closing

"The time has come to explain the law in this case." Judge Barry Williams as he begins jury instructions. #FreddieGray #PorterTrial

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Janice Bledsoe gives closing argument for prosecution.

Mike Hellgren@HellgrenWJZ
#PorterTrial Prosecutor Bledsoe: "When those van doors closed on Freddie Gray, that wagon became his casket on wheels" @cbsbaltimore

Here is another one...

Mariam Khan Verified account
Prosecution: "Freddie Gray went into the van healthy. Freddie Gray came out dead." Closing statements in #PorterTrial happening now.


THAT is simply NOT TRUE... he came out of the van ALIVE... died a week later in hospital

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Robert Lang
UPDATE: Prosecution will have a final statement to jury after defense. Heading back to Court

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

P. Kenneth Burns
Bledsoe quotes Voltaire and Spiderman to close argument "With great power comes great responsibility." #PorterTrial

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Prosecution finishes closing argument in #PorterTrial. Next it's the defense's turn.... 10 min recess

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

the irony in the #PorterTrial - here you have an officer that is everything the liberals want... & they are still hanging him out to dry

Baltimore opens emergency ops center as precaution as #PorterTrial comes to a close #fnr

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Mike Hellgren Verified account
#PorterTrial Defense closing: There's an absence of real evidence; prosecution's case is based on fear and rush to judgement @cbsbaltimore

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

#PorterTrial prosecution offering rebuttal closing statement to jury. #FreddieGray

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light