*It’s going to be some time before Officer Caesar Goodson Jr. stands trial for the death of Freddie Gray.
According to BuzzFeed, an indefinite delay was put on the trial by the Maryland Court of Special Appeals on Monday. Goodson is among a group of police officers accused of killing Gray. The indefinite delay stems from whether judges in the case can decide on whether Officer William Porter, another officer charged in connection with Gray’s death, has to testify against Goodson. Porter was on trial for manslaughter, but that trial ended in a hung jury late last year.
Led by State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby, prosecutors asked Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Barry Williams to compel Porter to testify. Despite Porter’s objections, Williams agreed. Attorneys for Porter then filed a motion with the Court of Special Appeals in an effort to request the higher court to issue an injunction against Williams’ order. The injunction was granted last week by the Court of Special Appeals.
Despite jury selection for Goodson’s trial being scheduled to start on Monday, the proceedings took a pause less than a minute in when Williams declared a recess as ordered by the Court of Special Appeals. With Porter being a “key witness” in the eyes of the prosecution, the decision from the Court of Special Appeals on whether to have him testify in Goodson’s trial is something that could make or break the case, BuzzFeed notes.
As a result, the trial can’t move forward until the Court of Special Appeals makes a ruling on this matter. In the meantime, Mosby and Porter’s attorneys will now have to file briefs and make oral arguments for their positions.
At this time, the Court of Special Appeals has not issued a due date for the briefs or for the oral arguments regarding the case.
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