Freddie Gray Case: Judge Denies Motion to Dismiss Charges Against Six Police Officers (Updated)

A Baltimore judge denied a motion Wednesday to drop the charges against the six police officers involved in the death of Freddie Gray but sided with the defense in ordering that the officers be tried separately.

WATCH: VIDEO: Prosecutor Charges Six Officers in the Death of Freddie Gray

The judge said it would not be “in the interest of justice” to try the officers together, The Baltimore Sun reports.

Gray died in April of a spinal injury while in police custody. His death ignited protests across Baltimore.

Defense attorneys had also sought to have Baltimore’s State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby recused from the case, arguing that comments she made when announcing the charges against the three white and three black police officers had tainted the jury pool. They also argued that Mosby’s office had conflicts with the case.

According to The Sun:

Judge Barry Williams said he found some of Mosby’s remarks “troubling,” but said they did not prevent the officers from receiving a fair trial.

Regarding the alleged conflicts, Williams said the defense “didn’t come close” to justifying a removal of the prosecutors’ office.

Tuesday’s arguments largely centered around the actions of Mosby and others in her office — and not the merit of the evidence in the case.

The dismissal motion focused on statements Mosby made while announcing the charges against the officers on May 1 in front of the Baltimore War Memorial. The arguments on the recusal motion focused on the role Mosby and prosecutors played in her office’s independent investigation of Gray’s death.