Baltimore’s justice system has been beset by some facilities fiascoes lately. A fire closed one courthouse, and now comes word of a power outage at the prosecutors’ office. One might delay the trial of a police officer accused in Freddie Gray’s death.
According to a legal filing posted Monday, State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby is asking for a delay in the trial of Officer Edward Nero due a power outage that made way for BGE work on Saturday. The outage made the office inaccessible, and prevented the trial team from accessing files. Mosby’s office wants the trial to begin on Thursday, May 12, instead of Wednesday, May 11, as originally scheduled.
Judge Barry Williams didn’t immediately rule, but the state said lawyers for Nero had no objection to the one-day delay.
Nero’s trial, which is the second in the case, follows a monthslong delay caused by the mistrial in Officer William Porter’s case, and appeals over whether he should have to testify against fellow police.
The Clarence Mitchell Courthouse is also closed for the second straight week following a fire in the basement on the same day as the primary election in Baltimore. Nero’s trial will be conducted in nearby Courthouse East.
