The next trial of a police officer in connection with Freddie Gray’s death is set to begin Monday, but it’s not known whether Officer William Porter will be taking the stand. Despite a ruling by one judge earlier this week, there’s still gray area about whether Officer William Porter will testify during the trial of Officer Caesar Goodson.
Prosecutors say Porter is a witness in Goodson’s case. During his own trial last month, Porter said he interacted with Goodson, who drove a police transport van that was carrying Freddie Gray. Regardless of Porter’s looming retrial in June, Judge Barry Williams ruled that Porter must testify if called by prosecutors at Goodson’s trial. But Porter’s attorneys filed an appeal, and got at least a hold on their ruling.
On Friday, the Maryland Special Court of Appeals issued a stay in the case. That means they haven’t made a decision yet, but Porter will only have to testify if the judges say he will. The judges said that Porter’s attorneys filed a 38-page motion, and they haven’t had time to respond.
Goodson is charged with second degree depraved heart murder and manslaughter, among other charges. Jury selection in his case is set to begin Monday. In Porter’s trial, jury selection took more than two days.
