Jury deadlocked in Baltimore police officer's trial

MSN News ^ | 12/15/2015

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Were they out of Charmin?

[A_Former_Democrat]

Yes, it was simply a political payout to make it go away

No way a loser like Freddie’s Dead had an earnings potential anywhere near that settlement. Not even by including his career as a dealer.

Racial Shakedown at its best

[Dog]

They looted sh!t house paper....ROFL!!!

[Right2BareArms]

Not guilty:

“A black man was killed and we demand JUSTICE!”

Guilty:

“A black man was unjustly convicted and we demand JUSTICE!”

Either way, someone’s going to get some sweet kicks for Christmas.

[Sir Napsalot]

The Farce continues.....

Baltimore, and Maryland people pay/paid for this show.

[5thGenTexan]

Maybe some on the jury are afraid to acquit. A hung jury gives them the cover of voting “present”.

[fatima]

You think they are going to riot?

[exit82]

Good for you.

I did that once as well, in my 20s, as a juror.

Brought the jury back into the courtroom twice because they told me I didn’t hear something correctly.

Turns out I was right both times.

Meant the difference between someone going to prison or not.

It stood at 11-1 for two days, and it was as if I was on trial, if you catch my drift.

Four counts—two guilty, two not guilty, or I said I would hang the jury. They saw it my way, and justice was served.

it surprised me how little people listen, and worse than that, how much they inferred because a state policeman was giving testimony.

I showed them how they put words in the trooper’s mouth that he did not say, in order to get the conviction the state wanted.

This was 30 years ago, when you could still get a decent education at school.

I hate to think what kind of critical thinkers we have today.

That’s why Jesse Watters’ segments are not funny to me.

[NorthMountain]

It has to be done.

God forbid it, but if I’m ever on trial I want sane, intelligent thinking people in the jury box. I owe my country, and my fellow citizens, no less.

[exit82]

Amen to what you said.

Wish more folks understood that.

[Daffynition]

In related news...

In a quiet Baltimore courtroom, three stories above the court where officer William Porter was facing a jury for his alleged role in the death of Freddie Gray, another young African American man was on trial this week for entirely different offenses related to Gray*s death.

Gregory Butler was facing charges for allegedly carrying a knife, trying to steal a cigarettes from a looted 7-Eleven store and escaping from police custody during the riot that followed Freddie Gray*s funeral. He also now faces federal charges over allegedly poking holes in a hose that was being used to put out a fire at CVS.

[snip]

The US attorney*s office charged Butler with aiding and abetting arson, which brings a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years, and with committing or attempting to “obstruct, impede, and interfere with firemen lawfully engaged in the lawful performance of their official duties”, which has a mandatory minimum sentence of five years. Since there is no parole for these charges, if convicted, Greg Butler, will likely spend far more time in prison than any of the officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray. And while the officers were immediately released on bail, Butler was held in jail for over a month with no bail.

[TalBlack]

I think Freddie damaged himself in hopes of a lawsuit and payout but was too thorough and died. Can you imagine being the cop who was driving the van? One minute he is driving around and the next he is in jail on a accessory rap or some damn thing.

[Vigilanteman]

Not yet. They didn’t deliver an acquittal, so a retrial might be possible. It is always best to time these verdicts for the coldest part of the year if possible.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Popcorn.

[Old Yeller]

Here comes the Christmas looting.

[Azeem]

I think it’s Christmas shopping time in Baltimore this evening.

[Ken H]

They looted a local shoe store and not a single pair of work boots was taken.

And no taxpayer was harmed during filming.

[Martin Tell]

Ruh row. Baltimore burning?

[Lurking Libertarian]

A serious question. IF the police are found NOT GUILTY of the “crimes” of which they stand accused. why would the City of Baltimore be paying this huge settlement? Yes, a sympathetic and compensatory payment to the family.

Because a conviction in a criminal case requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt, while a civil judgment requires only proof by a preponderance. It is not uncommon in these kind of cases for the officer to get acquitted in the criminal case but the City to be found liable in a civil case.

[milagro]

On the other side of the coin, I was on a jury trying a guy charged with aggravated assault. Each person on the jury had been asked if they had a problem with sending someone to prison, and each had answered "no".

During the deliberation process, two people didn't want to vote guilty because they didn't want to send the guy to jail. I--being convinced the guy WAS guilty--brought up the fact that a vote of not guilty should be based on reasonable doubt--NOT personal feelings--which they should have disclosed during jury selection.

Fortunately, the two DID vote guilty, and after the trial we found out the guy had been in prison before for similar crimes.