Judge Barry Williams will preside over the trial of William Porter. Porter is charged with several counts in the death of Freddie Gray earlier this year. (Courtesy photo)
A Baltimore judge has ruled that jurors in the first trial of a police officer in the death of Freddie Gray can remain anonymous, but they won’t be sequestered.
Judge Barry Williams ruled on Nov. 24 on more than a dozen motions ahead of Officer William Porter’s trial, which starts Nov. 30. Porter is charged with assault, manslaughter, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment. He is the first of six Baltimore officers to stand trial.
Williams ruled that he will not preemptively limit the number of character witnesses and won’t bar the introduction of certain evidence, including policies and procedures related to belting prisoners. Gray was not wearing a seatbelt when he was injured in the back of a police van.