|
 One of the points at issue in the case of Freddie Gray, 25, who
died from an injury sustained while he was in the van, is whether
Gray asked police for help and his request was disregarded.
Officer William Porter, 26, is charged with involuntary
manslaughter, misconduct, assault and endangerment in Gray's death
in April.
The death triggered protests and rioting in the largely black city
and fueled a U.S. debate on police treatment of minorities.
Gray was arrested for fleeing police and possessing a knife. He died
from a spinal injury suffered in the back of a police van.
 Porter is accused of failing to put Gray in a seat belt, as required
by department policy, and neglecting to get medical help when he
asked for it.
Defense lawyers have argued that Porter had no responsibility to
strap Gray in and that Gray was known for faking illness in previous
brushes with the law.
On Friday Porter said in an interview with investigators that was
played in Baltimore City Circuit Court that he passed along Gray's
request for help to the driver of the van and his superior.
Medical assistance was not called until the van reached a police
station.
[to top of second column] |
Porter is one of three black officers charged in the case. He is the
first of six officers to be tried over Gray's death.
Porter could be sentenced to more than 25 years in prison if
convicted on all counts. The other officers face charges ranging
from misconduct to second-degree murder.
(Reporting by Ian Simpson; Editing by Dan Grebler)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
