Maryland Court of Special Appeals sets dates for arguments in Goodson trial

Gray, 25, broke his neck riding in the back of a van Goodson was driving on April 12, prosecutors said.

The legal questions the Court of Special Appeals is scheduled to consider March 4 is unprecedented in Maryland, legal experts say.

Goodson’s case has been complicated after a judge ruled last week that Porter must testify against Goodson, despite Porter’s claim that he has a right not to incriminate himself.

In the meantime, Officer Goodson’s trial has been postponed. Officers Garrett Miller, Brian Rice, Edward Nero, who are also charged in Gray’s arrest, have trial dates scheduled for as soon as February 22.

Since Porter’s case ended in a mistrial, the stakes for Goodson’s trial have grown in a city still on edge from the rioting and unrest in April.

When the van arrived at the western district police station after a 44-minute ride, authorities said Gray was unconscious.

The second highest court in Maryland is set to hear arguments to determine if one officer should have testify against another.

Porter, who still faces trial on charges of involuntary manslaughter, second degree assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment, is a material witness against Goodson and police Sgt. Alicia White.

Prosecutors say Porter has immunity at Goodson’s trial and they can’t use his statements against him later. The Court of Special Appeals granted the injunction last week, but it wasn’t until today that it ordered the trial stayed.

Gray’s death exposed the deep divide between the public and the police in Baltimore, and became a national symbol of the Black Lives Matter movement. She faces the same charges as Porter. The delay is part of Officer William Porter’s effort to avoid testifying against fellow officers implicated inGray’s police custody death.

Officer Caesar Goodson was the driver of the transport van where Gray suffered a severe spinal cord injury that led to his death.