Freddie Gray Case Will Stay in Baltimore

Prosecution argued it was 'insulting' to say an unbiased jury couldn't be found
By Kate Seamons,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 10, 2015 10:34 AM CDT
Freddie Gray Case Will Stay in Baltimore
Top row from left, Caesar R. Goodson Jr., Garrett E. Miller and Edward M. Nero, and bottom row from left, William G. Porter, Brian W. Rice and Alicia D. White.   (Baltimore Police Department via AP, File)

Judge Barry Williams today decided that the city of Baltimore is capable of giving a fair trial to the six officers charged in Freddie Gray's death. The defense had argued that wasn't possible, due to the city's "extraordinary" $6.4 million settlement with Gray's family and the media attention the case has received. The lawyer for Sgt. Alicia White pointed to pressure as well: "They will know they must find our client guilty so they can go home to their community." But Williams ultimately agreed with the chief deputy of the Baltimore State's Attorney's Office, who argued that the court should at least attempt to seat a jury, saying it was "insulting to the citizenry of Baltimore" to claim that an unbiased jury couldn't be cobbled together from 300,000 possible jurors, reports the Baltimore Sun.

Williams' ruling affects that next step in the process, with jury proceedings remaining in Baltimore; the trial could still be moved if it's determined an impartial jury cannot be found. The AP reports that the announcement brought cheers from outside the courthouse, where cries of "the trial stays here" could be heard. (More Freddie Gray stories.)

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