The trials for the six police officers charged in the ultimately fatal arrest of Freddie Gray will remain in Baltimore, a judge ruled on Thursday, the Associated Press reports.
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Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Barry Williams brushed off arguments from the officers’ attorneys claiming that it would be hard to choose unbiased jurors in the city after the widespread riots, protests and imposed curfews, the newswire notes. Williams countered that it would be extremely difficult to find a place where information about the high-profile case could not reach.
“Information is ubiquitous, and every person in the city and state can choose to inundate themselves,” Williams said, according to AP.
Williams did say that potential jurors may be asked if they were influenced by coverage of the case.
After the decision, protesters cheered and started chanting, “The trial stays here,” AP notes. At least one person was arrested.
This week the city’s Board of Estimates approved a $6.4 million settlement with Gray’s family, which the defense attempted to argue suggested guilt on the officers’ part. Williams countered that the settlement has no impact on criminal trials.
The trial is scheduled to begin in October. According to AP, defense attorneys estimate that there are just about 276,000 eligible jurors in Baltimore.
Read more at ABC News.
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