Question about Freddie Gray trials

[XemaSab]

Why are they trying all the cops separately?

Why not have one giant trial and get the whole thing over with?

It seems like the malfeasance on the part of the cops was collective, and by breaking it up, it's easier for each of the officers to put forth a defense that his or her individual actions contributed to Freddie's death, but not at the level of criminal wrongdoing.

Porter's either going to walk or he's going to have a new trial, and since the next trial is scheduled to start on January 6, instead of being the first one to get a verdict, he may well be the last one.

The DA has screwed this up royally.

[firebrand80]

1. It's typically up to the Defendant

Most times a Defendant doesn't want to take the risk that he'll be lumped in the with actions of others.

[Ms. Yertle]

2. Actually,

I believe that is up to the judge.

The judicial system is weighted in favor of the defendant. It's the whole idea of "fair trial."

[Princess Turandot]

3. The judge ordered separate trials...

The prosecutors asked for two trials involving three defendants each. The defense requested separate trials. The judge granted their motion.

From WAPO in September...

In earlier court papers and statements, Alperstein said, prosecutors indicated that they wanted to group the officers into two trials. On Wednesday, they argued specifically that the same evidence applied to three of the officers and that trying them at the same time would give a jury the best understanding of what happened.

But the judge saw it differently, saying that the officers could be unfairly tainted if jurors were shown evidence related primarily to their colleagues’ actions.

Prosecutors declined to predict what effect the ruling would have on the case. It’s unknown precisely what evidence they will present at each trial.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/for-officers-charged-in-freddie-gray-case-separate-trials-are-better/2015/09/05/49783ff0-531f-11e5-9812-92d5948a40f8_story.html

The defendants also wanted the trials moved from B'more but the judge denied that motion a few days later.

[mike_c]

4. the cops charged with lesser offenses are up first....

If convicted, they'll likely be offered pre-sentencing deals to roll over on the later defendants.