Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Goodson Trial Day Four: Analyst Confirms Blood In Van Was Freddie Gray's


1:06 p.m.
As the second degree murder trial of Baltimore City Police Officer Caesar Goodson broke for lunch, the prosecution had presented 20 witnesses.
The last witness to testify before the lunch break was Stacey Lyles-Foster, Acting Warden for the state's Central Booking Intake facility, where those arrested are housed and await trial.
She testified about the procedure for evaluating inmates, and noted if there was a medical problem, the police officer bringing the inmate would be required to take the inmate to the hospital, stay with them until they are treated, and then return them to Central Booking.
At the time of Gray’s arrest  in April, 2015, Lyles-Foster was the assistant warden.
She testified in 2014, out of 42,852 inmates brought to Central Booking,  612 (1.43%) were rejected, and sent to the hospital. 
Lyles-Foster testified that In 2015, out of 32,782 inmates brought to Central Booking, 619 inmates (1.88%) were rejected and sent to the hospital.
Under cross examination, the warden said Freddie Gray had been rejected once in December of 2104, as he was treated for symptoms of a possible overdose. 
Lyles-Foster was asked by defense attorney Andrew Graham about the decline in the number of inmates brought to Central Booking between 2014 and 2015.
She testified that the decline was due to a drop in the number of people arrested by police.
Critics have charged Baltimore City Police have arrested fewer suspects because of the Freddie Gray case.
Earlier, the police detective who inspected police vans for seat belts in 2014 testified. 
Under cross examination, Detective Edward Bailey testified that Officer Caesar Goodson was not among the officers he questioned.
The Baltimore City Police Department issued an order days before Gray's arrest ;last year, requiring any prisoner loaded in transport vans to be placed in a seat belt.  
In earlier testimony, a police official testified that Goodson was made aware of the police in October, 2014, six months before the policy took effect.
12:15 p.m.
The prosecution is presenting its nineteenth witness at the second degree murder trial of Baltimore City Police van driver Officer Caesar Goodson, who is charged in the death of Freddie Gray..
That witness is Baltimore City Police Detective Edward Bailey, who inspected all police vans for seat belts in April, 2014, a full year before Gray's arrest.  
Prosecutors wanted to enter Bailey's report into evidence, the defense objected and then requested a bench conference.
That conference with Judge Barry Williams lasted about 15 minutes, before Williams called a brief recess.
Much of the fourth day’s testimony has come from witnesses offering technical evidence. 
There has been testimony from Thomas Wisner, the  Baltimore Police crime lab technician who collected blood samples from the van; Virginia Cates, the Baltimore Police  serologist who tested the blood;  and Thomas Hebert, the Baltimore Police DNA Analyst who confirmed the blood taken from the van and the seat belt was Freddie Gray’s. 
Earlier today, Baltimore City Police  Detective Michael Boyd wrapped up his testimony showing video of the van’s fifth stop at Penn and North. 
It shows all six officer standing at the back of the van, the right side door of the van open and officer looking at Gray. 
There is also video of the left rear door of the van open, where Donta  Allen was kept, though you don’t see Allen being loaded into van. 
The video also shows van arriving at stop, but it was not speeding. 
Under cross examination, Boyd was asked if he ever cited a driver for reckless driving, and was he familiar with the phrase “rolling stop” and did that count as reckless driving. 
Prosecutors objected, and the question was withdrawn. 
Defense attorneys have not yet raised any motions about evidence they received from the prosecution late Monday.
Prosecutors were ordered to turn over the evidence by Judge Williams, and he told defense attorneys that he would consider any motions they may have about that evidence.
The prosecution may wrap up its case today. 
11:50 a.m.
Police Detective Michael Boyd testified largely about the police van's fifth stop at Pennsylvania and North avenues. Surveillance vdeo showed Goodson and the other five officers later charged in Gray's death outside the van.
Surveillance video shows the van going down North avenue, but it didn't appear to be speeding at the time. Officers are seen looking into the van's open door, but Donta Allen was not shown being loaded in. Asked if he interviewed Allen, Boyd said he had and that Allen was cooperative.
A later witness, police serologist Virginia Cates, said she tested blood samples from inside in the van and confirmed the blood to have been that of Gray.
9:00 a.m.
Officer Caesar Goodson arrived at Courthouse East just before 9 a.m. for the fourth day of his second degree murder trial in connection with the death of Freddie Gray.
Goodson walked in the courthouse at a side entrance surrounded by sheriff's deputies.
The trial is entering its fourth day.
The one thing that could put a halt to the proceedings today is any motion the defense may file based on new evidence the prosecution turned over before court adjourned last night. 
Judge Barry Williams had given prosecutor Michael Schatzow a deadline to turn over the evidence after admonishing prosecutors for failing to notify the defense of an interview they did last year with Donta Allen, the second man loaded into the van with Freddie Gray. 
Defense motions could include asking for the case to be dismissed.  Judge Williams rejected that motion last week, but he could reconsider it today. 
Last night, Judge Williams told defense attorneys that  he would entertain whatever motions they file based on the evidence.
Court resumes at 930.
7:30 a.m.
It is day four of the second degree murder trial of Officer Caesar Goodson,  the Baltimore City Police van driver charged in the death of Freddie Gray.
Prosecutors apparently met a deadline set by the judge.
Before court adjourned just after 6:15 last night, Judge Barry Williams announced prosecutors met his deadline for handing over evidence to the defense. 
That deadline was set after Judge Williams admonished prosecutors for failing to disclose an interview they did with Donta Allen, the second man who rode in the van with  Gray. 
The judge said defense attorneys should review the evidence, and file whatever motions they’d like. 
The evidence won’t be made public, unless it is introduced in court.
It is not known if the defesne has filed any motions as of this morning, and it is not clear when or if Judge Williams will hold a hearing on those motions.
Meantime, more testimony is expected today from a police detective who investigated Gray’s death..
Baltimore City Police Detective Michael Boyd began his testimony after 5 p.m. Monday.
He’s a member of the police department’s FIT (Force Investigation Team) team that investigated Freddie Gray’s death. 
Goodson was the only accused officer who did not talk to investigators.
Boyd showed the video of the trip Goodson’s van made on the day of Gray’s arrest.
The video shows Goodson’s van making a wide turn at the intersection of North Freemont and Mosher Street, before Goodson stops the van, goes around back, looks inside without opening the door, and then drives away.
The van does not appear to be speeding in the video.
It is along that part of the trip where prosecutors believe Gray was injured. 
Boyd is the 15th prosecution witness presented since Thursday afternoon.  It is not clear if prosecutors will wrap up their case today.
In court filings last year, prosecutors had said it would take five days to present their case at Goodson's trial.
Court resumes at 9:30 a.m.

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