Maryland prosecutors are hoping to compel a second officer charged in the death of Freddie Gray to testify against a colleague, according to a court filing made available Monday, Reuters reports.
In the motion, filed in Baltimore City Circuit Court, prosecutors are asking a judge to make Police Officer Garrett Miller testify at the trial of fellow Police Officer Edward Nero, a trial that is scheduled to start May 10. The motion indicates that the order is needed because Miller is likely to refuse to testify because of his right against self-incrimination.
Miller and Nero were two of the six officers involved in the arrest of Freddie Gray in April 2015. Gray ultimately died from a neck injury suffered in police custody, authorities said. His death sparked protests and riots across the city and nationwide. Reuters notes that both Nero and Miller have pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct.
This is not the first time prosecutors have sought to force one of the officers related to the case to testify. In March, a state appeals court ruled that Police Officer William Porter must testify against his colleagues in the case.
Porter was the first of the six officers to stand trial, but his first trial ended in a hung jury in December. He is currently awaiting a second trial on charges of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and assault.
According to Reuters, defense lawyers have said that forcing Porter to testify would pave the way for prosecutors to compel others to do the same.
Read more at Reuters.