Judge Barry Williams handed down a not guilty verdict in the bench trial for Officer Caesar Goodson, the third officer charged in the arrest and death of Freddie Gray, according to the Baltimore Sun.
Thursday’s decision means Goodson avoided a conviction on the most serious charge handed down in the Gray case; second-degree depraved murder. Goodson, who drove the van Gray was transported in, was also cleared of manslaughter, assault, misconduct in office, and reckless endangerment charges.
Closing arguments were held on Monday after two weeks of testimony.
Defense attorneys say that Gray was combative, and called Officer Edward Nero as a witness to strengthen their argument that Gray made it difficult to secure his seatbelt. Nero was acquitted of all charges against him in May.
SOURCE: Baltimore Sun | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty, Twitter
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Freddie Gray: Baltimore Officer Caesar Goodson Found Not Guilty On All Charges was originally published on theurbandaily.com