BALTIMORE, Md. (AP) - Jurors adjourned yesterday without reaching a verdict in the trial of an officer charged in the death of Freddie Gray.
Jurors started their deliberations about 2:30 p.m. Monday and their discussions for the day concluded about three hours later.
They will resume deliberations today.
Jurors' Questions
During yesterday's deliberations, the jurors did ask for transcripts of police dispatcher and a police interview with Officer William Porter.
The judge denied the request since no transcripts were introduced into evidence, but jurors were welcome to review the audio and video.
Jurors also asked for definitions of terms from jury instructions. The terms were "evil motive", "bad faith" and "not honestly". They relate to the jury instruction for the misconduct in office charge.
As for the definitions, the judge said he could not expand on his jury instructions.
Jury Instructions
Before prosecutors and defense attorneys delivered their closing remarks, Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Barry Williams gave the jury a series of instructions on how to evaluate the charges.
Williams told jurors that in order to find Porter guilty of manslaughter they must determine that he acted in a "grossly negligent manner" and "created a high degree of risk to human life."
The judge says the assault charge also requires jurors to find that Porter was grossly negligent, while the misconduct charge requires an "evil motive, bad faith" and "not merely an error in judgment."
Porter faces charges of manslaughter, assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office in the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year old black man who died as the result of a spinal injury that occurred while he was driven in the back of a police van.
He is the first of six police officer charged in the case.
Closing Arguments
Prosecutors say it would have taken just two clicks for Officer William Porter to save Freddie Gray's life: one click to buckle the shackled man into a seatbelt in the back of the police transport van; another click to call into his police radio for an ambulance after Gray said he needed a medic.
But Porter's attorneys say he did more than enough for Gray on the day the detainee's neck was broken in the back of the van. They say Gray's death had nothing to do with the officer's actions.
School Officials Brace for Verdict
The Baltimore City Public Schools chief is warning students about the consequences of a violent response or other forms of protest ahead of any verdict in the trial of a police officer charged in Freddie Gray's death.
The letter dated Monday from school system CEO Gregory Thornton was sent home with students. A jury began deliberations Monday afternoon in the trial of William Porter, the first of six officers to go on trial in Gray's death.
Thornton writes that the school system supports students' right to express their emotions and will facilitate ways for them to do so. But he warns that "student walkouts, vandalism, civil disorder and any form of violence are not acceptable" and will result in consequences.
He also urged parents to prepare their children to act responsibly and safely.
The riot in April escalated after high school students were let out of school and converged on a mall, throwing rocks, bottles and bricks at officers. In October, more than a dozen activists, including several high school students, were arrested after an overnight sit-in at City Hall.
