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A Baltimore judge on Wednesday upheld charges against six officers implicated in the April death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray, as well as Baltimore state attorney Marilyn Mosby's prosecutorial role in the case.
During a pretrial hearing, Circuit Court Judge Barry Williams denied a defense motion filed by the officers’ attorneys to have the charges thrown out due to prosecutorial misconduct on the part of Mosby.
The judge also denied the defense's second motion -- to remove Mosby from the case altogether -- calling their claim "troubling and condescending" that Mosby's marriage to a councilman in a violence-striken district classifies as a conflict of interest.
AP reports,
“Andrew Graham, an attorney representing Officer Caesar Goodson, had unsuccessfully argued that Mosby's comments after filing charges against the officers were 'reckless and unprofessional,' and violated the rules of conduct. He likened Mosby's comments on the case to a 'pep rally calling for payback.'
“Williams also ruled against another defense motion, one that sought to have Mosby removed from the case due to what the defense contended were conflicts of interest.
“He called the assertion that Mosby's judgment was impacted by the fact that her husband Nick Mosby is a councilman in a district that experienced a disproportionate amount of violence 'troubling and condescending.'
"'Being married to a councilman is not a reason for recusal,’ he said.
“Williams added that allegations of prosecutorial misconduct must be addressed by the Attorney Grievance Commission.”
As it stands, all six officers face charges of second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and misconduct in office.
“[Officers] Rice, Porter and White also face manslaughter charges," writes AP, "and [Officer] Goodson faces an additional charge of second-degree murder.”
Judge Williams will hear arguments about whether the officers should be tried together or separately later today.
The death of Gray a week after his arrest on Apr. 12 is believed to be the result of a severe spinal cord injury sustained while in police custody.
News of his death incited riots in the city of Baltimore and demonstrations nationwide calling for police reform.
Mosby's remarks during a press conference where she discussed the prosecution's findings prompted the officers' defense attorneys to question her conduct as state's attorney.
To hear her remarks, watch the video below: