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The Latest: 4th day of trial for officer in Gray case wraps

Original Publication Date May 17, 2016 - 8:40 AM

BALTIMORE - The Latest in the trial of Baltimore Police Officer Edward Nero, who faces assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment charges stemming from the arrest and death of Freddie Gray (all times local):

3:45 p.m.

The fourth day of testimony in the trial of a Baltimore police officer charged in the arrest and death of Freddie Gray has ended.

Officer Edward Nero is charged with assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment. His trial began Thursday.

The first full day of defence testimony wrapped up Tuesday afternoon. Attorneys for Nero expect to finish their case Wednesday. Prosecutors and defence attorneys will present closing arguments Thursday.

Prosecutors say Nero unlawfully arrested Gray, who died a week after suffering a spinal injury in the back of a police van. They also say he was negligent when he didn't strap the man, who was in handcuffs and shackles, into a seat belt.

Nero's attorney says he didn't arrest Gray, and that it is the van driver's responsibility to belt prisoners.

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3:15 p.m.

A Baltimore police sergeant responsible for training recruits said he never gave training in the department's seat belt policy to an officer charged in the arrest and death of Freddie Gray.

Officer Edward Nero is charged with assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment.

Sgt. Charles Sullivan took the stand Tuesday for the defence. Sullivan, Nero's field training officer, testified that he never gave Nero any field training in prisoner transport or how to secure an inmate in a police wagon. He also said Nero's training was significantly shorter than the 10-week required course, but couldn't explain why.

Gray died April 19, a week after his neck was broken in the back of a police van when he was handcuffed and shackled but unrestrained in a belt. Prosecutors say Nero was negligent for not buckling in Gray.

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1:30 p.m.

A police sergeant says he acted as a mentor to an officer charged in the arrest and subsequent death of Freddie Gray.

Sgt. Warren Stephens testified Tuesday that he went out on assignments with Officer Edward Nero to teach the young policeman the ropes. But Stephens said he didn't train Nero in how to seat-belt prisoners, and he didn't tell his subordinates about a seat belt policy updated days before Gray's arrest making it mandatory to put prisoners in seat belts.

Nero is charged with assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment.

Prosecutors say Nero illegally arrested Gray, and was negligent in failing to seat belt him. Nero's attorney says he wasn't involved in the arrest, and that it's the wagon driver's responsibility to buckle in prisoners.

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11:30 a.m.

A Baltimore police sergeant and an officer took the stand for the defence in the trial of an officer charged in the arrest and subsequent death of Freddie Gray.

Edward Nero faces multiple charges stemming from Gray's April 12, 2015, arrest. Gray died a week later after his neck was broken in the back of a police transport van.

Prosecutors say Nero illegally arrested Gray without probable cause and was negligent when he failed to secure Gray in a seat belt.

Officer Aaron Jackson worked with Nero and was on the scene of Gray's arrest. He testified Tuesday that he could see Gray "violently shaking" the van, and that he'd made arrests but never buckled prisoners into the transport van's seat belt. A police sergeant who taught at the police training academy also testified.

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3 a.m.

The trial for an officer facing charges stemming from the arrest and death of Freddie Gray after being injured in a police van continues with defence witness testimony.

Officer Edward Nero faces assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment charges. His trial began Thursday. Prosecutors finished presenting testimony Monday, and the defence called its first witness, former Baltimore commander and recently retired Charlottesville police chief Timothy Longo.

Prosecutors say Nero and two other officers illegally arrested Gray on April 12 of last year and were negligent when they failed to buckle him into a seat belt. Gray suffered a critical spinal injury in the back of the police van and died a week later. Nero's defence says the officer wasn't involved in Gray's arrest and that it is the wagon driver's responsibility to buckle in prisoners.

News from © The Associated Press, 2016
The Associated Press

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