Judge acquits Baltimore police officer who helped arrest Freddie Gray, who died in custody

A Maryland judge acquitted Baltimore police officer Edward Nero of assault and other charges in relation to the April 2015 death of Freddie Gray, who suffered a fatal spinal injury while in police custody.

Officer Edward Nero was charged with second-degree assault, misconduct in office, and reckless endangerment. Mr Nero waived his right to a jury trial. Judge Barry Williams issued the verdict Monday morning.

“This is our American system of justice and police officers must be afforded the same justice system as every other citizen in this city, state, and country,” Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said in a statement following the judge's decision.

Anticipating protests, she added: “In the case of any disturbance in the city, we are prepared to respond. We will protect our neighbourhoods, our business, and the people of our city.”

Activist leader and former Baltimore mayoral candidate Deray McKesson criticised the lack of police accountability in the aftermath of the verdict.

"Although the criminal case against Officer Edward Nero has come to a close, the internal investigation has not,“ Baltimore Police spokesperson TJ Smith said in a statement, adding that the internal investigation will continue until the criminal investigations for all six officers charged have concluded.

Freddie Gray, 25, died on 19 April 2015, one week after his arrest, which prosecutors say was unjustified. Officers allegedly placed Mr Gray in the back of a police van handcuffed and shackled at his feet, but left unsecured to his seat.

Defense attorneys say that it was not Mr Nero’s responsibility to fasten Mr Gray’s safety belt as we was not the driver of the police transport van. They also argue that the BPD rule for fastening suspects inside of vehicles upon arrest is more suggestion than rule, as each situation requires the officers to use their discretion based on the circumstances, the Associated Press reports.

Mr Nero, 30, is the second officer to stand trial for the arrest of Freddie Gray - whose death led to more than a week of protests in the city. Officer William Porter faced manslaughter charges, but his trial ended with a hung jury. Mr Porter will receive a retrial in September.

The City of Baltimore reached a $6.4m (£4.4m) wrongful death settlement with the Gray family in September. The settlement itself will have no bearing on the ongoing criminal trials of the officers who arrested Mr Gray. Mayor Rawlings-Blake said that the settlement would help the city avoid a long, drawn-out civil suit.