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Judge Issues Gag Order In Freddie Gray Trials

Baltimore Police

Baltimore Circuit Judge Barry Williams issued Tuesday a gag order in the Freddie Gray trials; ending a day of pre-trial hearings that saw blows to the defense and a smack to prosecutors.

Williams, before issuing the gag order, ordered prosecutors to turn over the rest of their investigative files to the defense by Oct. 28.  He found prosecutors did not turn over the files in a timely manner.

The hearings marked the first time that all six officers involved in the case were in court together.

Officers Caesar GoodsonJr., William Porter, Edward Nero, Garrett Miller, Lt. Brian Rice and Sgt. Alicia White face a range of charges from reckless endangerment to murder.

Attorneys for Porter and White moved to quash statements their clients made from the time of Gray’s arrest until his death a week later from a severe spinal injury suffered while in the back of a police van.

Ivan Bates, White’s attorney, said she was misled and duped into thinking she was a witness and did not know her rights.

Deputy State’s Attorney Janice Bledsoe countered that it was “incredulous” that White, a five-year veteran of the force, did not know her rights.

During questioning, police Detective Syreeta Teel, who interviewed White on April 17, was asked why she interviewed White a second time.

Teel said “there were inconsistencies” before the defense interrupted with an objection.

Gary Proctor, Porter’s attorney, said Porter was not aware of his rights unlike White.

Both, Bates and Proctor, argued that the officers were compelled to make statements.

Prosecutors showed part of the interviews that showed White and Porter advised of their Miranda rights and their rights under state law; the Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights.

Judge Williams ruled that White and Porter were not compelled to make statements and ruled them admissible.

Attorneys for Miller, Nero and White withdrew motions to have their statements suppressed for the time being.