Baltimore Police [official website] Officer Caesar Goodson, Jr. was acquitted [transcript, PDF] Thursday of all charges in relation to the 2015 death of Freddie Gray. The case was presided over by Baltimore Circuit Associate Judge Barry Williams, who stated that “in order for there to be a conviction, the state must show, not that the defendant failed to do an act required by the duties of his office, but that the defendant corruptly failed to do an act required by the duties of his office.” Williams went on to conclude that the evidence presented against Goodson did not indicate inherently criminal conduct. Goodson, the police van driver who was accused of having given MGray a “rough ride,” had been charged with second-degree depraved heart murder, three counts of manslaughter, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office. Goodson is one of six officers indicted [JURIST report] last year. The trial of police officer William Porter ended in a hung jury and mistrial in December, and Edward Nero was acquitted [JURIST report] last month.

Gray’s arrest and death in April of last year led to widespread protests and civil disorder in the city of Baltimore. In September Baltimore reached a tentative agreement with Gray’s family to pay $6.4 million in settlement [JURIST report]. In April of last year Amnesty International urged Baltimore police to exercise restraint [JURIST report] during protests, prioritize non-violent means and limit the use of force.