Hung Jury: Baltimore Awaits New Trial in Freddie Gray Case
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A Baltimore judge met with prosecutors and defense attorneys Thursday to discuss a new trial date for a police officer charged with manslaughter in the death of Freddie Gray.
The news comes one day after a jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict in the case of William Porter, one of six officers charged in Gray's death.
Baltimore Circuit Judge Barry Williams declared a mistrial Wednesday after jurors made it clear they were deadlocked over whether Officer Porter had committed any crimes due to actions he didn't take prior to Gray's death.
The hung jury followed three days of deliberations.
Gray, 25, died after suffering a broken neck in a police van while handcuffed and shackled.
The Associate Press reports that prosecutors believe that Porter is partially to blame because he didn't call an ambulance when Gray indicated he needed medical aid.
He also failed to buckle Gray into a seat belt, leaving him handcuffed and shackled but unrestrained in a metal compartment, unable to brace himself when the van turned a corner or braked.
Porter told jurors he didn't think Gray was injured when he checked on him on the floor of the wagon, and helped him onto a bench inside.
Porter also said he didn't buckle Gray in because it wasn't his responsibility; the wagon driver is in charge of making sure the prisoner is strapped in while the van is moving.
There have been peaceful protests following the mistrial.
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