The Maryland Court of Appeals has postponed the trials of the Baltimore police officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray until it can decide on a key issue affecting the case.
Freddie Gray died April 19, a week after he was in police custody, where he was reportedly handcuffed but not belted into his seat during police transport. Six police officers were indicted May 1 in connection with his death.
According to the New York Times, the Maryland Court of Appeals, Maryland's highest court, is postponing the trials of five officers until it can decide whether the sixth, Police Officer William Porter, whose October trial ended in a mistral, can be forced to testify against the five. Porter also is awaiting retrial. The court's postponement immediately affects Officer Edward Nero, since jury selection for his trial had been set to begin Monday.
According to the Associated Press, "Baltimore Circuit Judge Barry Williams initially ruled that Porter must testify against two other officers, Sgt. Alicia White and Caesar Goodson. All three are facing assault, reckless endangerment, misconduct in office and manslaughter charges. Porter's attorney appealed the order, and the [lower] Court of Special Appeals stalled the trials for Goodson and White until its judges could issue a ruling."
Read more at the New York Times and NBC News.