A thorough and compelling argument against the unfairness experienced in both public and legal settings.
By Justine Barron ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 15, 2023
The case of Freddie Carlos Gray Jr. is a tragic example of a judicial killing. Arrested by Baltimore police officers for possessing what they called an illegal weapon, he died of injuries after being in custody for less than an hour. Investigative reporter Barron uncovered numerous instances of misconduct, ineptitude, and willful obfuscation in the discovery file. Maryland State Attorney Marilyn Mosby initially filed charges against six Baltimore officers that specified the supposedly illegal knife was actually legal, yet she dropped the charge. Media reports tended to uncritically repeat the police account of the incident, while the U.S. Department of Justice appears to have suppressed or not presented eyewitness accounts that indicated excessive force before the ride began may have been the true cause of death. Barron’s analysis of the system reveals it failed Freddie Gray, whether by design or indifference. Rabia Chaudry provides the foreword. This case, along with the death of George Floyd five years later, highlights the need for reform in the justice system to ensure malign police officers do not walk free after murdering a suspect.
Pub Date: Aug. 15, 2023
ISBN: 9781950994250
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Arcade
Review Posted Online: June 28, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2023