07-18-2016, 10:44 PM
^ Atlanta PD Officer Burns has been charged with felony murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of violation of oath by a police officer.
Story: http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/16/us/former-...th-murder/ (HOTD edit: corrected link)
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And, in the Freddie Gray case, Lt. Brian Rice was acquitted today after a bench trial by Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Barry Williams.
Rice is the fourth of the six officers charged to go on trial in the 2015 death. Three have been acquitted, one jury hung, and two defendants have yet to be tried.
CBS News' Justice Department reporter Paula Reid reports Rice's acquittal is not a surprise given that this trial involved the same case, the same facts, similar witnesses, and the same judge as the last acquittal.
Williams' verdict may have hinged on a simple question: Should the officer have put a seat belt on Freddie Gray?
During closing arguments last week, Judge Williams asked prosecutors if they believed it was a crime not to put a seat belt on Gray.
"So, failure to restrain equals criminal act?" the judge asked.
Michael Schatzow, chief deputy state's attorney, replied that it was, because to leave Gray face down on the floor of the van in handcuffs and leg shackles amounted to Rice not taking reasonable action to ensure his safety. The judge obviously disagreed.
Story: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/brian-rice-f...baltimore/
Story: http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/16/us/former-...th-murder/ (HOTD edit: corrected link)
---------------------------
And, in the Freddie Gray case, Lt. Brian Rice was acquitted today after a bench trial by Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Barry Williams.
Rice is the fourth of the six officers charged to go on trial in the 2015 death. Three have been acquitted, one jury hung, and two defendants have yet to be tried.
CBS News' Justice Department reporter Paula Reid reports Rice's acquittal is not a surprise given that this trial involved the same case, the same facts, similar witnesses, and the same judge as the last acquittal.
Williams' verdict may have hinged on a simple question: Should the officer have put a seat belt on Freddie Gray?
During closing arguments last week, Judge Williams asked prosecutors if they believed it was a crime not to put a seat belt on Gray.
"So, failure to restrain equals criminal act?" the judge asked.
Michael Schatzow, chief deputy state's attorney, replied that it was, because to leave Gray face down on the floor of the van in handcuffs and leg shackles amounted to Rice not taking reasonable action to ensure his safety. The judge obviously disagreed.
Story: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/brian-rice-f...baltimore/