News
14 Tweets That Recap The Freddie Gray Hearing
On Monday, a Maryland judge will deliver a verdict on Edward Nero, one Baltimore police officer charged in Freddie Gray's death. The second of six officers to go to trial for the 25-year-old man's death in April 2015, Nero was charged with arresting Gray without justification and failing to secure him in the van headed to the police station, in which his neck was broken. Gray died a week later after lapsing into a coma and undergoing surgery. Tweets recapping the Gray hearing give an inside look into what evidence was provided against Nero and how his defense team argued his innocence.
The 30-year-old cop waived his right to a trial by jury, which is why Judge Barry Williams will decide the case's outcome. Nero was one of three officers who chased Gray on bikes and made the initial arrest after he ran away from the cops. He faces misdemeanor charges of second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and misconduct in office, together potentially adding up to 15 years in prison. Nero is currently suspended from the force with pay as policy requires.
His trial lasted a week, with the prosecution calling 14 witnesses to testify and the defense calling seven. Both sides gave their closing statements Thursday, and have been patiently awaiting the verdict since then. Here are 14 tweets that explain what exactly went on in the courtroom.
On Who Took Gray Down
On The Knife
On Physical Contact
On Who Arrested Gray
On Police Policy
On Improper Training
On Not Testifying
On The State's Case
On Why The Arrest Was Illegal
On The High-Crime Area
On Video Evidence
On Police Stops
Nero's fate is in the hands of Judge Williams, who is set to deliver his verdict Monday morning.