Jury Begins Deliberations Concerning Officer Charged In Freddie Gray’s Death

In closing arguments on Monday, prosecutors called Baltimore police Officer William Porter “callous” and “indifferent” to Gray’s suffering.

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BALTIMORE — Baltimore police Officer William Porter, one of six cops charged in the death of Freddie Gray, was "callous" and "indifferent" to the suffering of Gray while he was in the back of the police van following his April 12 arrest, prosecutors said in closing arguments Monday.

Porter "knew Freddie was hurt badly, but he did nothing," Deputy State's Attorney Janice Bledsoe told jurors in an emotionally-charged presentation that also accused the 26-year-old Baltimore native of making misleading statements and covering for his fellow officers.

In the wake of renewed concerns about police use of deadly force against black citizens, including recent protests in Chicago, Minneapolis, and San Francisco, prosecutors in Baltimore — a city long dogged by racial unrest and accusations of police brutality — wrapped up their case Monday by characterizing Porter as complicit in a policing culture that has little regard for those who churn through the criminal justice system.

Porter's attorney, Joe Murtha, argued that prosecutors wrongly pressed the case against Porter because of the national attention surrounding Gray's death on April 19, which set off protests and, ultimately, rioting in West Baltimore.

"There is an absence of real evidence in this case," Murtha told the jury. "It seems the case was premised on fear and a rush to judgment."

Porter, 26, faces charges of involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault, misconduct in office, and reckless endangerment related to Gray's death from spinal injuries while in police custody. He has plead not guilty.

The other five officers will be tried consecutively, starting Jan. 6.

Throughout the trial, prosecutors have argued that Porter's failure to place Gray in a seatbelt or promptly seek medical attention means that he bears significant responsibility for Gray's death. Porter's attorneys have maintained that he acted to help Gray, implicitly shifting the responsibility for his death to the other officers charged in the case.

They resumed those arguments Monday.

LINK: Here's Our Full Coverage of William Porter's Trial

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