IT BEGINS TO UNRAVEL – AT 11:14 A.M. ET:   There was something seriously wrong with that grandstanding press conference held last week by the Baltimore state's attorney who announced serious charges against the police officers involved in the Freddie Gray case.  Her comments seemed more political than legal, and one wondered how she could have so quickly reached the conclusions she claimed to have reached.  Major legal scholars, like Alan Dershowitz, raised grave questions about her behavior and words.   Now, only days later, it appears that her case is starting to wobble.  From CNN:

Baltimore (CNN)  The Baltimore police investigation into the death of Freddie Gray doesn't support some of the charges, including the most serious, filed by the Baltimore City State's Attorney, potentially allowing lawyers representing the police officers the opportunity to undercut the prosecution, according to officials briefed on the separate probes conducted by the State's Attorney and police.

Already, defense attorneys are filing motions seeking to exploit differences between the separate state attorney and police investigations.

Lawyers for two officers have challenged a key finding of State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby's case: that a knife found on Freddie Gray was legal in Maryland and therefore the officers didn't have a right to arrest Gray. The police investigation found that the knife is illegal under Baltimore city code.

Officials familiar with the probes also say the homicide investigation run by police investigators at most contemplated a manslaughter charge, not second degree murder as Mosby charged one of the officers, Caesar Goodson. To win conviction for murder, prosecutors must prove intent to kill. Manslaughter relates to unintentional killings.

COMMENT:  This case is only beginning.   Responsible people will seek only the truth.  Irresponsible people will seek victory for their side, regardless of the truth.

May 7, 2015