Freddie Gray trials of officers begin with 'mixed emotions' in Baltimore

At the intersection of West North Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue in Baltimore, the scene of looting and riots over the death of Freddie Gray, people in the neighbourhood say they will be watching closely as the first of six police officers goes on trial Monday in connection with the 25-year-old's death.

Gray died after suffering a spinal injury following his arrest and unsecured transport in the back of a police van. Days of peaceful protests turned violent on the day of Gray's funeral in April, with many residents angry over police treatment of young black men. The six officers are being tried separately.

They are:

• Officer William Porter.
• Officer Edward Nero.
• Officer Garrett Miller.
• Officer Caesar Goodson Jr.
• Lt. Brian Rice.
• Sgt. Alicia White.

The burned and looted CVS pharmacy at the corner of West North and Pennsylvania served as the backdrop for TV crews who descended on the city and put a spotlight on the poor neighbourhood called Sandtown-Winchester in Baltimore's west end. The store is still under construction. One day last week, workers stood upon scaffolding and were laying down bricks.

Standing near a tree beside the construction site decorated with balloons and teddy bears, Bailus McLee said people in the neighbourhood are carrying on with their daily lives, but are fully aware that the first trial is set to begin.

"There are some mixed emotions," he said. "Folks are going to be following it closely. I think most citizens just want justice to prevail, whichever way." 

Porter, 26, is the first to stand trial, facing charges of manslaughter, assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office. He has pleaded not guilty. Porter, who is black, was not initially at the scene of Gray's arrest. He joined the officers later and is accused of ignoring Gray's requests for medical help and failing to buckle him into his seat in the police van.

Trial begins with jury selection

The van made several stops during the 45 minutes it took to drive from where Gray was arrested to the district police station. When the van arrived Gray, who was handcuffed and whose legs were shackled, was found unresponsive and taken to a hospital, where he died a week later.

The driver of the van, Goodson Jr. faces the most serious charge, second-degree depraved heart murder. Goodson's trial is scheduled for January. 

All of their defence attorneys asked to have the trials moved out of Baltimore, arguing that an impartial jury can't be found in the city given the publicity and high emotion around Gray's death. The requests were denied, but Judge Barry Williams has left the door open and given himself the option of changing his mind.

Monday's court proceedings began with jury selection. A pool of about 70 to 80 jurors were expected to be interviewed.

Sade Deanes, waiting for the bus near the CVS store, said people there feel that in order for justice to be done, the officers who have been charged must be convicted. Otherwise, Baltimore will not heal from the unrest it experienced, the young woman said.

"If they don't serve the time for the crime that they committed Baltimore is not going to be the same, it's not," she said.

Residents like Bailus McLee said he's concerned that if the officers aren't found guilty, the city will once again erupt into violent protests.

Worry over protests

"Some people feel that unfortunately if there aren't any convictions, there are going to be some disturbances as a result. I hope not, I hope not," he said. But, he added, "Folks are still angry," and it's not just about Freddie Gray. "There are other Freddie Grays," he said.

The police shooting of a young, black man in Chicago is currently in the news, and so is the shooting of protesters in Minneapolis. Four men have been arrested in connection with the wounding of five people who were demonstrating the fatal police shooting of an unarmed black man a few weeks ago.

One man in Gray's old neighbourhood and who declined to give his name predicted there will be more violence in Baltimore if the six officers aren't convicted.

"They have to be punished for their crime," he said, and if they are not, "I'm telling you now, the city is going to punish them."

"The city is going to go up in an uproar," added his friend, who also would not give his name.

The city, and its police in particular, are bracing for the outcome of these trials.

"Everything is at stake. The future of the city is at stake," said Kevin Davis, the police commissioner.