Murder Trial Begins for Police Officer Who Drove Van in Freddie Gray Case

Caesar Goodson, the police officer who faces the most serious charges in the Freddie Gray case, began his trial on Thursday.

Goodson drove the arrest vehicle in which Gray was transported. He is one of the six officers charged in Gray’s arrest, but he is the only one charged with murder. He has chosen to have a bench trial, waiving his right to a jury. This is the third trial related to the death of Freddie Gray, with the first two trials ending without conviction. Officer William Porter’s trial ended in a hung jury, while Officer Edward Nero was found not guilty.

Gray, a 25-year-old black man, was in shackles and not wearing a seatbelt while in the arrest vehicle. He obtained a spinal injury while in the arrest vehicle. As the driver of the van, Goodson is charged with second-degree depraved-heart murder; if he’s convicted on this charge, he faces a maximum 30-year prison sentence. Goodson is also charged with manslaughter, an assault and misconduct in office.

The prosecution explained that Goodson was reckless and caused Gray’s spinal injury, and ultimately his death. Gray was arrested April 12, 2015. He was detained by police, taken into custody, and he died one week later on April 19, 2015.

“He was injured because of the way officers transported him—shackled and restrained,” Chief Deputy State’s Attorney Michael Schatzow said.

Defense attorney Andrew Graham argued that Goodson was a hardworking police officer and a good driver, and that there was no evidence of a “rough ride.” He said officers did not seatbelt Gray because he was “wildly combative.”

After a ruling Monday by Circuit Judge Barry G. Williams, prosecutors will not be allowed to present evidence that Gray told officers “I can’t breathe,” during his transport. Williams denied the claim that the prosecution did not fully outline the alleged acts that constituted the crimes charged. He also denied defense motions to dismiss the case for violating Goodson’s right to a speedy trial.

Three other officers are left to stand trial—Officer Garrett Miller, Lt. Brian Rice, and Sgt. Alicia White.