Baltimore officer waives jury trial in death of Freddie Gray

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

A Baltimore police officer will be tried by a judge instead of a jury on charges stemming from the 2015 death of Freddie Gray, a black man who died in police custody, a Maryland judge ruled on Tuesday.

Edward Nero, 30, is the second officer to face trial in Baltimore City Circuit Court over Gray's death from a neck injury suffered in a police transport van. The incident sparked rioting and protests across the city of 620,000 and is one of those highlighted by the Black Lives Matter movement.

Nero is charged with second-degree assault, two counts of misconduct in office and reckless endangerment. All are misdemeanors. Five other officers also face charges over Gray's death, ranging from misconduct in office to second-degree murder.

In a pre-trial hearing, Judge Barry Williams granted a request by Nero's lawyers to waive his right to a jury and have Williams decide his fate in a bench trial. Williams warned Nero that it was difficult to reverse his decision.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-baltimore-police-idUSKCN0Y115C

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World | Tue May 10, 2016 12:24pm EDT
BALTIMORE | BY DONNA OWENS

[Ed Suspicious]

1. Taking his chances with a corrupt system?

[cstanleytech]

4. More likely it's because it's difficult to sway a judge

with the emotions of a case than it is a jury.

[SusanLarson]

2. Judges

He knows that the judges are going to be generally favorable to the police.

[TipTok]

3. Are they still forcing the first guy who the mistrial...

To testify?

[moonbabygo]

5. His charges are misdemeanors

you don't need a jury for that