Freddie Gray death: Baltimore officer cleared of murder

Officer Caesar Goodson drove the van in which Mr Gray rode before he died

Baltimore police officer Caesar Goodson has been found not guilty in his trial for the murder of black detainee Freddie Gray.

He was cleared on a second-degree "depraved heart" murder charge, the most serious count sought against the six officers charged in the case. Mr Goodson drove the van in which Mr Gray rode before he died.

Freddie Gray died a week after he was arrested

The verdict is a blow to prosecutors, who have yet to win a conviction connected to Mr Gray's death. Freddie Gray, 25, was arrested in April 2015 for running away from police officers. He died a week after sustaining a spinal injury while in the back of a police van.

Freddie Gray's death last April sparked mass protests throughout Baltimore

His death sparked civil unrest in Baltimore, part of a wider national debate on police brutality and the death of unarmed black men at the hands of police.

At the end of the five-day trial, Baltimore Circuit Judge Barry Williams also acquitted Mr Goodson on charges of manslaughter, assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment.


The judge said the state had failed to show that Mr Goodson was aware he had injured Mr Gray or that he needed medical care. Prosecutors had argued that Mr Goodson was criminally negligent when he failed to use a seat belt to secure Mr Gray and intentionally gave him a "rough ride" while transporting him to the police station.

The van made six stops during the ride to the police station. Mr Goodson was the only officer present at each of the stops. "The state had a duty to show the defendant corruptly failed in his duty, not just that he made a mistake," the judge said in his ruling.

The same judge cleared Officer Edward Nero last month on misdemeanour charges in connection to Mr Gray's arrest and declared a mistrial in December after a jury failed to agree on charges against Officer William Porter.

Officer Garret Miller and Lt Brian Rice are the two remaining policemen scheduled to stand trial in July on charges of assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in officer. Mr Rice also faces a charge of manslaughter.

Reaction to the verdict

Mr Goodson hugged and shook hands with supporters and family members, including Officer Nero, who was acquitted in May, as the courtroom began to spill out, the Baltimore Sun reported.

State Sen Catherine Pugh, the Democratic nominee to become Baltimore's next mayor, issued a statement urging calm. "Protests are a vital part of democracy, but to destroy the homes and businesses many people have worked very hard to build is unacceptable," she said.

 "Although people may disagree with the verdict, it is important to respect each other and to respect our neighbourhoods and our communities." Protesters outside the courthouse began marching toward police headquarters after the verdict.

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake responded via Twitter, saying Mr Goodson would face an administrative review and asking citizens to be patient. "I am proud that we as a community have come together to move our city forward over the past year. I know that the citizens of Baltimore will continue to respect the judicial process and the ruling of the court," she added.

Civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton said he was "disappointed" in the judge's decision. "Last April, Gray sustained a fatal injury while riding in the van that Officer Goodson was driving, and now his family and friends live without him every day," he said.

The NAACP also called the verdict a "wakeup call for Baltimore".