Man at centre of Baltimore police scandal suffered ‘high energy injury’

A medical examiner found that a young black man suffered a “high-energy injury,” most likely caused when the Baltimore police van he was riding in suddenly slowed down.

A post-mortem report obtained by The Baltimore Sun newspaper says Freddie Gray’s death could not be ruled an accident and is instead a homicide because officers did not follow safety procedures “through acts of omission”.

Police arrested Mr Gray, 25, on April 12 and he died a week later, prompting protests and rioting. A grand jury indicted six officers on various charges. One officer faces the most serious charge of second-degree “depraved-heart” murder. They have pleaded not guilty.

The Baltimore Sun reported that the post-mortem found the injury, similar to those suffered in shallow-water diving, was most likely caused when the van suddenly decelerated.

A spokesman for the Maryland medical examiner and for the prosecutor’s office declined to release the report, but State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby condemned the leak.

“I want to make it very clear that the state’s attorney’s office did not release the Freddie Gray autopsy report. As I have repeatedly stated, I strongly condemn anyone with access to trial evidence who has leaked information prior to the resolution of this case,” she said.

Lawyers for the officers released a joint statement saying they had not yet received the report, although Ms Mosby is expected to turn it over to the defence by Friday.

Although officers loaded Mr Gray into the van on his abdomen, the medical examiner surmised he may have got to his feet, then been thrown into a wall when the van abruptly changed direction.

Because Mr Gray was not belted in and had his wrists and ankles shackled, he was “at risk for an unsupported fall during acceleration or deceleration of the van”.

Police and a lawyer for the Gray family have said previously that Mr Gray suffered a severe spine injury.

At the University of Maryland Medical Centre, Mr Gray tested positive for opiates and cannabinoid, according to the post-mortem.