Baltimore judge delays murder trial of cop charged in Freddie Gray case

A Maryland appeals court on Monday delayed the murder trial of a Baltimore police officer in the death of black detainee Freddie Gray until it can decide on whether a key witness should testify.

Jury selection was slated to begin Monday for Officer Caesar Goodson Jr., who has been charged with second-degree depraved heart murder andmanslaughter.

Goodson is accused of killing Gray, 25, in April 2015 after he failed to restrain a shackled Gray in the back of a police van, which made several stops during a 45-minute period. Gray suffered a severe spine injury and died a week later.

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Goodson is among six officers charged in the case. Prosecutors will likely try and show Goodson purposely gave Gray a tumultuous ride as a form of punishment, USA Today reported.

The ruling by the Court of Special Appeals in Annapolis delayed the trial until it can decide whether William Porter, the Baltimore police officer whose own trial in the Gray case ended in a hung jury in December, could be compelled to testify against Goodson and another officer.

Goodson faces 30 years in prison if convicted.

Reuters contributed to this report.