Noah Miller
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON — (WMAL) The highest-ranking officer implicated in 25-year old prisoner Freddie Gray’s death has elected to have a judge – rather than a jury – determine his case, following his pre-trial hearing Tuesday morning.
Lieutenant Brian Rice, who faces charges of assault, manslaughter, and reckless endangerment, opts for the same route Officers Caesar Goodson and Edward Nero, both of whom were present during Gray’s death and faced similar charges, took in the court room of Circuit Judge Barry G. Williams.
Both Goodson and Nero were later cleared by Williams.
Five officers, including Rice, filed defamation suits against Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby after they were initially charged.
The remaining two officers implicated filed motions to dismiss their cases.
Rice is the fourth officer to stand trial after Gray suffered a severe neck injury in the back of a transport van and died a week later. Medical reports suggest Gray’s head was struck during a stop or turn.
Copyright 2016 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (Photo: CNN)
