Cops Want Charges or Baltimore Prosecutor Dropped

Marilyn Mosby, Baltimore state’s attorney, speaks during a media availability, Friday, May 1, 2015 in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Micael Winter, USA TODAY

 
BALTIMORE (USA Today) — The six Baltimore police officers arrested over the death of Freddie Gray asked Friday that charges be dropped or that the city’s top prosecutor step aside because of her “political and personal motivation.”

In a joint motion to the local district court, attorneys for the officers argued that the “inciting rhetoric” State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby used at a May 1 news conference announcing the charges violated constitutional protections against “overzealous prosecution.”

“Rarely in the history of any criminal case has a prosecutor so directly maintained so many conflicts of interests,” the motion declares. “Rarer still are instances where such clear conflicts exists [sic] and a prosecutor steadfastly refuses to him or herself.”