U.S. judge to continue with charges against officers in Freddie Gray murder

Washington, Sep 3 (EFE).- A judge in Baltimore, United States, rejected Wednesday appeals by the lawyers of six police officers charged in connection to the death of Freddie Gray, a young black man, in April, which then triggered a wave of protests across the country.

Judge Barry Williams dismissed the defense team's appeals for the withdrawal of charges, which include second degree murder, manslaughter and wrongful detention.

The judge also rejected a recusal motion against Baltimore State's Attorney, Marilyn Mosby, over alleged conflict of interest, and determined that the six defendants will be tried separately.

Gray, 25, died on April 19, after a week in coma, following a spinal injury during his arrest.

Gray's death unleashed massive protests in Baltimore on the day of his funeral, resulting in serious disturbances throughout the city, while the authorities declared a state of emergency, curfew and arrested hundreds of protesters.

Of the six local police officers (three of whom are black) Officer Caesar Goodson, an Afro-American officer who was driving the van in which Gray was transferred, has been charged with second degree murder.

It is in the van that Gray could have been subjected to the practice known as 'cowboy ride', in which detainees are subjected to rough riding without a seat belt in the metallic cell, resulting in them getting thrown around violently between breaks and rough turns.

Gray suffered a serious spinal injury that killed him a week after his arrest.

The six officers pleaded not guilty of the charges against them.

Wednesday's court hearing was accompanied by some protests on Baltimore's streets, albeit peaceful, with only one arrest made by the police.