News

Actions

Lt. Brian Rice opts for bench trial in Freddie Gray case

Posted
and last updated

BALTIMORE (AP) - Lt. Brian Rice selected a bench trial Tuesday in the Freddie Gray case.

Like Officers Edward Nero and Caesar Goodson, Rice will now stand trial before a judge. His trial is scheduled to begin Thursday at 9:30 a.m.

Rice is the fourth Baltimore police officer slated to stand trial on charges stemming from the death of a 25-year-old prisoner whose neck was broken in the back of a police transport wagon.

Pre-trial motions began Tuesday in the trial of Lt. Brian Rice on charges of manslaughter, assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office in the death of Freddie Gray.
 
Judge Barry Williams ruled that both the assault and reckless endangerment charges will not be dropped. 
Rice is the highest-ranking officer charged in the case. Two other police officers charged in the case were acquitted, and the proceeding against a third officer was declared a mistrial.
 
Gray died April 19, a week after he suffered a critical spinal injury in a police wagon while he was handcuffed and shackled but left unrestrained by a seat belt.
 
ABC2 News contributed to this report. 
 

Download the ABC2 News app for the iPhone, Kindle and Android