Curiously Mosby is trying to get the two misdemeanor defendants (bicycle cops Nero and Miller) split up with one in each trial.  Possibly she’s looking for contradictions between the two officers to crop up – Or she’s racially seeking to colorize the trials…

(Via Baltimore Sun) Prosecutors on Friday urged a Baltimore judge to try six police officers charged in the arrest and death of Freddie Gray in the city, arguing that it’s too early to decide whether jurors here can be impartial.

Defense lawyers have asked for the trials to be moved elsewhere in Maryland, pointing to the high level of publicity the case has received. Deputy state’s attorney Janice Bledsoe left open the possibility that the case could still be moved if an impartial jury cannot be seated on the eve of trial.

“Until then, the court should not, as the defendants request, demeaningly prejudge the ability of Baltimore’s citizens to fulfill their traditional duty to impartially determine the facts of criminal cases happening within their city,” Bledsoe wrote.

[…]  Gray’s autopsy report, obtained by The Baltimore Sun, showed that he suffered a “high-energy injury” while being transported in the police van. A medical examiner ruled his death a homicide because police failed to follow proper procedures.

Police Commissioner Anthony Batts has ordered an internal affairs investigation to determine whether anyone in his department was responsible for providing the report to The Sun, police spokesman Sgt. Jarron Jackson said Friday.

{snip – sound familiar?  FYI – At least the IA investigation will be subject to public records requests once complete}

[…] In a procedural filing, prosecutors are seeking to have Caesar R. Goodson, Sgt. Alicia D. White, Edward M. Nero and Garrett E. Miller tried together, and Officer William F. Porter and Lt. Brian W. Rice to be tried together.

The court filings do not explain the reasoning behind the request, and a spokeswoman for the state’s attorney’s office declined to comment.

Some legal analysts had expected to see Nero and Miller, the two bicycle officers initially involved in stopping Gray split off from the others who face more serious accusations. They only face misdemeanor charges.

David Jaros, a law professor at the University of Baltimore who has been following the case, said prosecutors may be seeking the groupings because the officers have made statements that incriminate each other.

Defendants must be allowed to cross-examine witnesses against them, which cannot happen in a joint trial. (read more)