Freddie Gray case: Partial testimony from Officer Porter to be allowed in Lt. Brian Rice trialKevin Rector, The Baltimore Sun
A day after a judge dismissed one of four charges against Baltimore police Lt. Brian Rice in the arrest and death of Freddie Gray, Rice’s trial continued Tuesday with more testimony from defense witnesses.
The first witness, Dr. Matthew Ammerman, a neurosurgeon, testified that he believes Gray's fatal spinal cord injuries in the back of a police transport van last year were immediate, rather than progressive, and that he sustained them during the last leg of the van’s transport of Gray.
The second witness, Dr. Jonathan Arden, a former medical examiner and current forensic pathology consultant, provided similar testimony.
That is in contrast to the testimony of the prosecution's medical expert and the medical examiner who performed Gray's autopsy, who said they believed his injuries were progressive -- and that he therefore could have maintained some function, and been able to talk and breathe, for a period of time after the injury occurred.
Arden also contradicted the finding of assistant state medical examiner Dr. Carol Allen that Gray’s death was a homicide. He said it was an accident.
The testimony speaks to the contrasting theories in the case, and the timing of Gray’s injuries.
While the prosecution contends Gray was injured at an early point during his transport, the defense contends he was injured during the last leg – well after Rice’s last interaction with Gray and after Gray had been repositioned in the van several times.
....more at linkhttp://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryla ... story.html