ALERT Baltimore Wed. 2 Sept 15: Pre-Trial Motions to Begin in Gray Case

[Housecarl]

Figured I'd start a new thread on this considering the size of the main one MzKitty started since there's a potential for "round two"......

For links see article source.....
Posted for fair use.....
http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2015/...s-protests-planned-for-freddie-gray-hearings/

Security Heightened At Courthouse As Freddie Gray Hearings Set To Begin

September 1, 2015 11:25 PM
Mike Hellgren
WJZ general assignment reporter Mike Hellgren came to Maryland's News... Read More

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — The national spotlight will be back on Baltimore Wednesday, as a judge hears critical arguments that will impact the fate of six police officers. They’ll soon be on trial for the death of Freddie Gray.

WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren at the Mitchell Courthouse.

Security will be tight both inside and outside Courthouse East as hearings begin in the Freddie Gray case, with several police agencies sending out advisories warning of possible disruptions and city police canceling all leave.

Demonstrations are planned to start before the judge opens the courtroom.

Click here to learn about more about the motions that will be discussed in Wednesday’s hearing.

“If they don’t [prepare] and something goes down, they’ll be to blame again,” said Mike Borsos.

“It’s always better to be safe than sorry so I think Baltimore is just being prepared. I don’t think anything is seriously going to happen,” said Janae Fowler.

“That’s out of sheer abundance of caution just to prepare and hopefully we don’t need to use our preparations,” said Lt. TJ Smith.

Judge Barry Williams laid out strict rules which he said are designed to preserve the security and dignity of the court. Deputies will control visitor movement on the second floor. The judge asked visitors not to bring backpacks and reporters will conduct interviews from an area at the corner of Fayette and Calvert.

The restrictions are even more stringent than those for the last huge trial here: that of former Mayor Sheila Dixon.

Parking restrictions are in place all around the courthouse with signs accounting for both of the upcoming hearing dates.

The officers are not expected to attend either hearing—and don’t expect to see police in riot gear…although they have new equipment and training since the April unrest, but they don’t want to to provoke.

“We are going to treat a protest like a protest and a riot like a riot and that should come across loud and clear,” said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

The eyes of Baltimore—and those around the world—will again be watching.

“I don’t think they’ll want a repeat of what happened. The most important thing is that there’s justice at the end of the day,” said Grace Orimalade.

The trial is scheduled for October, but it could be pushed back due to the enormity of these cases.

WJZ will have complete coverage of the hearing Wednesday.

_____


MAIN BALTIMORE/FREDDIE GRAY THREAD: Six Police Officers Charged
Started by mzkittyý, 04-19-2015 02:47 PM
http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/show...RAY-THREAD-Six-Police-Officers-Charged/page38

Baltimore calls in federal agents to help homicide cops deal with spike in violence
Started by Dennis Olsoný, 08-04-2015 08:00 AM
http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/show...elp-homicide-cops-deal-with-spike-in-violence

Et al....

 

[somdwatcher]

Justice for whom???

 

[Ice Guy]

DW works downtown and near the Courthouse, her building has issued a heads up to everyone to be aware of their surroundings over the next few days.

 

[Housecarl]

For links see article source.....
Posted for fair use.....
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/1st-freddie-gray-hearing-officers-charged-death-33473922

1st Freddie Gray Hearing Since 6 Officers Charged in Death

BALTIMORE — Sep 2, 2015, 9:30 AM ET
By JULIET LINDERMAN
Associated Press

Protesters demonstrated outside Baltimore Circuit Court on Wednesday morning as the first court hearing was set to begin in the case of six police officers criminally charged in the death of Freddie Gray, a black man who died a week after suffering a critical spinal injury in custody.

As dozens of sheriff's deputies patrolled the streets around the courthouse and journalists and observers lined up waiting for the courthouse to open, protesters carrying yellow signs with slogans including "Stop racism now" gathered outside. They chanted: "Indict, convict, send those killer cops to jail. The whole damn system is guilty as hell" and "Tell the truth and stop the lies, Freddie Gray didn't have to die."

Prosecutors and defense attorneys will present arguments at Wednesday's hearing on three key issues: whether State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby should recuse herself, whether the officers should be tried separately, and whether charges should be dismissed.

The officers face charges that range from second-degree assault, a misdemeanor, to second-degree "depraved-heart" murder. Gray's death led to protests in Baltimore, and a riot that prompted National Guard intervention and a city-wide curfew.

Protester Lee Paterson said he's concerned charges could be dropped.

"You know, this whole thing is bigger than Freddie Gray," Paterson said. "It's about poverty."

 

[Housecarl]

For links see article source.....
Posted for fair use.....
http://upnorthlive.com/news/nation-...-since-6-officers-charged-in-death-09-02-2015

Man arrested at Freddie Gray hearing protest in Baltimore
By Associated Press and Sam Sweeney, WJLA |Wednesday, September 2nd 2015

BALTIMORE (AP/WJLA) — Dozens of protesters have been rallying for more than an hour outside the Baltimore courthouse where a hearing will take place for six police officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray, a black man who died a week after suffering a critical spinal injury in custody.

Many protesters marched in the street to the city's Inner Harbor area, where they blocked a main road briefly. Police lined up behind them, and directed them out of the road. Police handcuffed one protester while he was on his stomach in the street.




The situation was tense outside the courthouse ahead of the hearing in the death of Freddie Gray. The 25-year-old black man suffered a severe spinal cord injury on April 12 while in police custody. He died a week later.

As dozens of sheriff's deputies patrolled the streets around the courthouse and journalists and observers lined up waiting for the courthouse to open, protesters carrying yellow signs with slogans including "Stop racism now" gathered outside. They chanted: "Indict, convict, send those killer cops to jail. The whole damn system is guilty as hell" and "Tell the truth and stop the lies, Freddie Gray didn't have to die."




Prosecutors and defense attorneys will present arguments at Wednesday's hearing on three key issues: whether State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby should recuse herself, whether the officers should be tried separately, and whether charges should be dismissed.

Officers Edward Nero, Garrett Miller, William Porter and Caesar Goodson, as well as Lt. Brian Rice and Sgt. Alicia White, face charges in connection with the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray. All the officers face second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office charges. Rice, Porter and White also face manslaughter charges, and Goodson faces an additional charge of second-degree murder.

Gray's death led to protests in Baltimore, and a riot that prompted National Guard intervention and a city-wide curfew.

Protester Lee Paterson said he's concerned charges could be dropped.

"You know, this whole thing is bigger than Freddie Gray," Paterson said. "It's about poverty."

 

[Ice Guy]

DW is so pissed off, she literarily loathes Baltimore now. She texted me a picture of Police suiting up in Riot Gear on her walk from the parking garage to her building this morning wondering if this is the new normal for Baltimore.