2nd week of testimony starts in William Porter trial

BALTIMORE (WBFF) - With court back in session Monday morning, assistant medical examiner Dr. Carol Allan is expected to continue her testimony in the trial of William Porter, the first officer to be tried in the Freddie Gray case.

On Friday afternoon Dr. Allan testified about the autopsy findings, saying that cause of death was a neck injury and the manner of death was homicide. Allan said the injury, at his c4-c5 vertebrae, was "a near transection of the spinal cord,"meaning it was almost completely cut. When asked by the prosecution how delayed medical attention affects this kind of injury, Allan said neurological damage would increase, resulting in breathing problems and suffocation.

Allan said she has a "reasonable degree of certainty" in her findings.

Jurors heard testimony from several witnesses last week, including the detective who investigated Gray's arrest and injury and two of Porter's instructors from the police academy. Jurors were also shown the van that transported Gray and watched a 58-minute videotaped interview given by Officer Porter to Internal Affairs.

In the video Porter told investigators that he did help Gray up off the floor, and that Gray repeatedly asked for a medic. Porter says in the taped interview that initially he couldn't see an injury to Gray, and that Gray wouldn't say what was wrong.

Porter is expected to take the stand to testify in his own defense this week. The defense is also expected to call Donta Allen, a man who was in the van at the same time as Gray.

Porter is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter, assault/second degree and misconduct in office. His trial could last until mid-December.

The five other officers facing charges in the case are scheduled to be tried between January and March:

• Caesar Goodson: Jan. 6, 2016 (charged with: second-degree depraved heart murder, manslaughter, assault/second degree, manslaughter by vehicle, and misconduct in office)
• Alicia White: Jan. 25, 2016 (charged with: manslaughter, assault/second degree and misconduct in office)
• Garrett Miller: Feb. 9, 2016 (charged with: assault/second degree, misconduct in office and false imprisonment)
• Edward Nero: Feb. 22, 2016 (charged with: assault/second degree , assault/second degree, misconduct in office and false imprisonment)
• Brian Rice: March 9, 2016 (charged with: manslaughter, assault/second degree, misconduct in office and false imprisonment)