Prosecutor: Baltimore officer on trial for what he didn't do

BALTIMORE (AP) — An officer is on trial for "what he did, or more importantly, what he did not do" to help Freddie Gray as the young black man suffered a spinal injury in police custody, a prosecutor said today.

Officer William Porter failed to render aid to Gray, who repeatedly asked for medical attention after he was arrested, handcuffed and shackled at his feet, and driven around in a police transport van for about 45 minutes in April, prosecutors said.

"The defendant alone is on trial for what he did, or more importantly, what he did not do," prosecutor Michael Schatzow said during opening statements.

Gray's death triggered protests and rioting in the city, and helped fuel the Black Lives Matter movement.

He faces charges of involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment. The charges carry maximum prison terms totaling about 25 years.

His attorneys were to present their opening statement later today.

A jury was seated today, a selection process that was relatively brisk, given defense assertions in pretrial proceedings that it would be impossible to seat an impartial panel. Judge Barry Williams repeatedly denied defense motions to move the trial out of Baltimore.