Breaking: Baltimore Police Lt. Found Not Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter in Freddie Gray Death

[Hissyspit]

Source: NBC News

@BreakingNews: Baltimore police lieutenant found not guilty of involuntary manslaughter in Freddie Gray death - @HellgrenWJZ

https://t.co/pY4sh24pLd/s/eCxm

Read more: Link to source

[DetlefK]

1. Was that the guy they shot in the back, they guy they choked to death or the guy they killed with...

...with a rough ride?

It's getting hard to keep up.

[Calista241]

3. I suppose you could say this was the guy they gave a rough ride to

But there's no evidence he actually got a rough ride.

I'm all for holding cops accountable, but they aren't responsible for freak accidents that occur because of someone's own actions and decisions.

[DetlefK]

6. Freddie Gray made the decision to not wear a seatbelt?

[philosslayer]

7. Judge ruled that not buckling him in wasn't smart...

but that it also wasn't a crime.

[Calista241]

9. Is not seat belting someone a criminal offense?

[former9thward]

15. No its not.

It may or may not be negligent depending on the circumstances but it is not criminal.

[Fozzledick]

12. I suppose you could say there's no evidence if you ignore the dead body.

And of course the cops aren't responsible for his decision to be Black. Or for what will happen when this next load of shit hits the fan.

[uawchild]

23. this ^^^^^ n/t

[TheDebbieDee]

27. Other cops may pay for actions for which these cops were not punished...

[cstanleytech]

4. Rough ride. nt

[MosheFeingold]

11. Private videos killed the case

As did the GPS box in the truck.

Basically, there is zero evidence that the van made any rough maneuvers, and, to the contrary, drove in a normal fashion.

There is, however, ample evidence that Gray was belligerent and threw himself around, hurting himself worse than he intended as he was shackled hands and feet.

The police do plenty of bad things.

No need to prosecute the good ones. In fact, that just hurts the cause.

[philosslayer]

14. Yeah, he broke his own neck

a ridiculous post

[MosheFeingold]

16. Looking at this as a lawyer

The prosecutor has the burden to prove her case. She failed miserably in this regard.

And that's all there is to it in our criminal justice system.

[Bradical79]

21. I'd say not meeting the burden of proof in a courtroom isn't the same as being "good cops".

Not that they aren't, but those are two different discussions you're putting forth in this subthread. Not meeting the burden of proof is understandable, but convincing people he broke his own neck is going to take more explanation. I still don't get how a handcuffed man can end up dead at the end of a van ride.

[lark]

24. Prosecutors represent the state which is represented by the police.

They routinely tank cases against the police because they rely on them so much. It's one hand washing another and you see this constantly happening. Of course, the judges are also in the tank for the police, so it's a really high bar to get over and that rarely happens. The only times a cop is convicted is when their is incontrovertible evidence. Otherwise, it's people just kill themselves, nothing to see here, no reason to note that this mainly happens to blacks.

[annavictorious]

28. You're accusing Marilyn Mosby of throwing these cases?

Or are you accusing the AA judge who worked in the Justice Department investigating and prosecuting police misconduct of the throwing the cases?

Narratives are interesting, but sometimes they don't work.

[lark]

30. I was speaking in genralitires, don't know her.

Actually I was thinking about the Trayvon Martin case because I know Angela Corey tanked that case and it sure seems pretty purposeful.

[annavictorious]

31. Zimmerman wasn't a cop,

And Angela Corey was criticized for both overcharging and filing false affidavits to help the prosecution. I never saw anything that said she threw the case.

[yallerdawg]

2. ...the more they stay the same.

[n2doc]

5. Until the Police are held to the same standard of justice as the rest of us, the fight must continue

[In_The_Wind]

8. +1

[TeddyR]

19. But the police were held to the same standard in this case

At least as far as the justice system is concerned. You could actually argue that they were held to a higher standard, since it was pretty clear the prosecutor overcharged here.

[n2doc]

22. Somehow if the same actions were taken by civilians on another civilian

I think the outcome would have been different. But keep believing that the Justice system is unbiased if you wish.

[Feeling the Bern]

10. not surprised at all.

[RoccoR5955]

13. Not to mention

he probably got a paid vacation (aka administrative leave) while the whole thing was going on.

[branford]

18. Do you oppose "paid vacations," i.e. unremarkable administrative leave,

during the pendency of criminal and civil proceedings, often necessary to ensure adequate due process, prevent legal and social prejudice and financial hardship and normally in compliance with standard union contracts, only when such leave applies to police, or does your righteous indignation also extend to the many thousands of other circumstances when it similarly protects teachers, tradesman, nurses and multitudes of other largely liberal and democratic union members and civil servants across the country?

Sarcastic comments about union members and municipal employees enjoying "paid vacations" when accused of and fighting allegations of terrible conduct are typical of my more conservative and Republican colleague and friends, and not expected by people on a liberal Democratic forum.

[alarimer]

17. How is NO ONE responsible for that injury?

Unless you expect us to believe he broke his own neck?

Fucking outrageous. Another cop gets away with murder. And even if it wasn't intentional, it was at least negligent.

[maxsolomon]

20. but was it criminally negligent?

judge says no. it wasn't murder the cop was charged with, it was involuntary manslaughter.

police dept. might fire the officer, regardless, for incompetence, and exposing the department and city to civil liability. a settlement in the 100s of 1000s is surely coming.

[lsewpershad]

25. Didn't you know

Freddie killed himself.... and did so while disabled [handcuffed and all]

[annavictorious]

26. Here's the verdict.

Do you agree/disagree with the legal reasoning? If you agree, but still want this cop jailed, you're seeking revenge, not justice.

http://www.baltimorecitycourt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Rice-7-18-16-Ruling.pdf

[giftedgirl77]

29. Shocker