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 Defense lawyers for the officers will argue before Circuit Court
Judge Barry Williams that intense publicity makes it impossible to
hold a fair trial in the city. Gray's death in April triggered
protests and fueled a U.S. debate on police treatment of minorities.
The hearing comes a day after the city's financial control board
approved a $6.4 million civil settlement to the Gray family.
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said the deal would help avoid a
drawn-out legal process and resolve any civil claims against
Baltimore and the officers.
The Fraternal Order of Police criticized the settlement because it
had been reached before the officers' cases were heard. Trial has
been set for next month.
Police arrested Gray, 25, on April 12 after a foot chase in
crime-ridden West Baltimore. He was bundled into a police transport
van while shackled and handcuffed, and was not seatbelted. Officers
ignored his request for medical aid.
He died a week later from a spinal injury, sparking protests and
rioting in the largely black city of about 620,000 people. National
Guard troops were sent in to restore order, and Rawlings-Blake
imposed a curfew.
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The officers face charges ranging from second-degree
depraved heart murder to assault and misconduct. Three of the
officers are white and three are black, including one woman.
(Reporting by Ian Simpson; Editing by Mohammad Zargham)
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