Porter Takes The Stand In His Own Defense In Freddie Gray Trial
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Facing intense cross-examination. Officer William Porter says he did not even know Freddie Gray was injured until it was too late.
He is the first officer to stand trial for Gray's death. On Wednesday, he took the stand in his own defense.
WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren with more on what Officer Porter said on the stand.
Officer William Porter's testimony is arguably the most crucial of this case. He faced two rounds of tough questions from prosecutors, detailing his version of events stop-by-stop and what he says happened to Freddie Gray.
Pivotal moments in court as Officer William Porter takes the stand in his own defense, describing the moment at the police wagon's final stop when he found Freddie Gray unresponsive.
"I call and call and he doesn't answer. I climb in. I pull him back, and there's mucous on his mouth," Porter testified.
Porter then cursed.
"I think the most dramatic part is when he says, 'Oh, [expletive!]' because it shows some concern on his part," said Warren Brown, lawyer and courtroom observer.
Officer Porter admitted, two stops before, Gray asked him for a medic.
"He never said he couldn't breathe. He had a regular tone of voice when he was talking to me," testified Porter.
"And Officer Porter testified that when he went into the wagon, he saw Freddie Gray, and there were no outward signs of Freddie Gray needing any kind of emergency medical services at that time," said Warren Alperstein, lawyer and courtroom observer.
Porter said he told wagon driver, Officer Caesar Goodson, that Gray needed to go to the hospital. At the next stop, he encountered Gray again, who again said he needed help. This time, Porter notified Sergeant Alicia White.
"He's not this horrible person that the charges might make him out to be," said Brown.
In testy, tense cross-examination, prosecutors picked apart Officer Porter's past statements to police, attacking his credibility, even insinuating he lied to protect other officers and lied about what he did.
"Ultimately, the prosecution must prove that Officer Porter did not take the actions that a reasonable officer would have done under the circumstances," said Doug Colbert, University of Maryland law professor.
Jurors also heard from forensic pathologist, Dr. Vincent DiMaio, who told them his review of the autopsy shows Gray's death is not a homicide.
The final witness of the day was Officer Zach Novak. He got immunity from the state, but testified for the defense. He was at the final stop at the Western District, where Freddie Gray was found unresponsive.
