Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
BALTIMORE (AP) — A Baltimore judge ruled Wednesday that a police officer facing charges related to the death of Freddie Gray must testify against a fellow officer, an unprecedented move that means the officer could face jail time if he refuses.
Baltimore Circuit Judge Barry Williams ruled that William Porter, whose trial ended in a mistrial last month, can be compelled to take the stand in the trial of wagon driver Caesar Goodson. Goodson is facing the most serious charge of the six officers charged in the case: second-degree murder, in addition to manslaughter, assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment.
The ruling could have sweeping ramifications. While its immediate impact on other cases is unclear, the judge warned prosecutors that calling Porter as a witness against Goodson could make it more difficult to put Porter on trial again.
In a September letter to the court, prosecutors indicated they intended to call Porter as a witness against both Goodson and another officer, Sgt. Alicia White, arguing that his testimony is crucial. But Porter's attorneys had said in court documents he planned to invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination if called to the stand. Now, Porter is no longer able to do so; if he does, he can be held in contempt of court and potentially jailed.
Prosecutors plan to offer Porter immunity, meaning they can't use his own testimony during Goodson's trial against him later. But Williams warned that keeping Porter's accounts separate could be difficult.
"I will note if Mr. Porter testifies at a trial that's not his, once you've heard something, how will you put that out of your mind when you cross-examine him?" Williams asked Chief Deputy State's Attorney Michael Schatzow. "The second he testifies it might change the game."
Still, Williams said as long as Porter is offered immunity, "that seems satisfactory."
Porter's attorney Gary Proctor said he plans to ask an appeals court to overturn the ruling before Monday, when Goodson's trial is scheduled to begin.
No such ruling has ever been made in the state of Maryland and could have tremendous implications for future cases.
"I'm in uncharted territory," Williams said while issuing the ruling.
Longtime Baltimore defense attorney Warren Brown, who is not involved in the Gray case, said Williams' decision is extraordinary. The judge is essentially saying there is no difference between a witness and a defendant, so long as immunity is granted, he said. And he said that could make it difficult for people to get a fair trial in future cases involving several defendants.
"This has never happened in the state of Maryland. It's only in regard to an investigation that a person is given immunity," Brown said, adding that "it's almost sacrilegious to make a defendant testify by giving him or her immunity, and that's why it's never occurred."
But Douglas Colbert, a University of Maryland Law professor, said the judge's decision wasn't surprising. He said it protects Porter because he's granted immunity, but also protects the prosecution's case. He also noted the case was highly unusual, given how rare it is to prosecute police officers.
"Otherwise, any time you had co-defendants, they'd all gang up together and say, 'everybody keep quiet. Let's not cooperate.' And who gets defeated? The public does because the public doesn't learn the truth that would allow for some of those people to take responsibility and be found guilty," he said.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
