He gambled on a non-jury trial, and the decision seems to have paid off for one of the six Baltimore cops accused in the death of Freddie Gray. A judge on Monday acquitted Edward Nero of assault and other charges related to last year's death of Gray, who was fatally injured while in police custody, reports the AP. A jury trial of another officer previously ended in a hung jury, and he will be retried. The other four officers also face trial before the end of the year. Nero, 30, was one of three officers on bike patrol who initially chased and arrested Gray, and his defense team argued that he had little to do with any of the injuries Gray later sustained, reports the Baltimore Sun.
As the verdict was read, Nero dropped his head down and his attorney placed a hand on his back. The courtroom was quiet. When the judge said he was not guilty, Nero stood up and hugged his attorney, and appeared to wipe away a tear. "The state's theory has been one of recklessness and negligence," Baltimore Circuit Judge Barry Williams said. "There has been no evidence that the defendant intended for a crime to occur." (More Freddie Gray stories.)
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