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Officer Edward
Nero, 30, is charged with arresting Gray without justification
in April 2015 and then failing to secure him in a transport van
where he suffered a broken neck.
Nero is the second Baltimore officer to be tried in Baltimore
City Circuit Court for Gray's death. He waived his right to a
jury trial and Judge Barry Williams will render the verdict.
Nero was among three bicycle officers who chased Gray, 25, after
he fled unprovoked in a high-crime area. Gray was arrested and
bundled into the transport van while shackled, but was not
seatbelted in place as required by department policy.
Gray's death sparked arson and protests in the city.
Nero faces misdemeanor charges of second-degree assault,
reckless endangerment and two counts of misconduct in office. If
convicted on all counts, he could be sentenced to at least 15
years in prison.
During the week-long trial, Nero's lawyers argued that Gray's
arrest was justified and that the officer had little to do with
it. He never touched Gray except when he tried to help him find
an asthma inhaler and helped lift him into the van once he was
shackled, they said.
Nero's partner, Officer Garrett Miller, testified that he, not
Nero, had arrested Gray.
Nero is among six officers charged in Gray's death. The charges
against the others range from misconduct in office to
second-degree murder.
The trial of the first officer involved in the Gray case,
William Porter, ended in a hung jury in December.
(Writing by Ian Simpson in Washington; Editing by Alan Crosby)
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