A judge last night ordered individual trials for six Baltimore police officers charged in the death of a black man from an injury while in custody.
Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Barry Williams also rejected defence motions calling for charges to be dropped and State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby and her office to recuse themselves from the Freddie Gray case.
The death of Mr Gray, 25, in April from a severe spinal injury suffered in the back of a police van drew worldwide attention when it triggered protests and a day of rioting, arson and looting.
Judge Williams ordered separate trials for the defendants.
He rejected a prosecution motion that Officer Caesar Goodson, the van driver; Officer Edward Nero, who had helped arrest Mr Gray; and Sergeant Alicia White, who was an on-duty supervisor, should be tried together and the other three separately.
"Having Officers Goodson and Nero together is not in the interest of justice," he said.
Mr Goodson faces a second-degree murder charge, Mr Nero is accused of misdemeanour assault, and Ms White is charged with manslaughter.
Defence attorneys had argued that the six officers should be tried separately.
The trial had been scheduled for 13 October. It was not immediately clear what the trial schedule will be given the ruling.
Judge Williams rejected the defence contention that Ms Mosby violated her obligation to assure a fair trial when she announced the charges at a news conference as the largely black city of 620,000 people was in turmoil.
Judge Williams said that point would best be settled in a misconduct proceeding, not in his courtroom.
He said Ms Mosby's comments did not warrant dropping charges.
Defence arguments that her comments would prejudice jurors could be raised when a jury is selected, Judge Williams said.
Lawyers for the officers had contended that Ms Mosby had publicised evidence when she announced the charges.
Judge Williams also turned back the defence request for recusal.
The defence contended that Ms Mosby's office had investigated the case and thus created a conflict of interest.
Prosecutors contend Mr Gray was arrested illegally since he was put in handcuffs before officers found a banned switchblade knife in his pocket.
Another pre-trial hearing is set for 10 September on whether the case should be moved from Baltimore because of publicity surrounding the trial.
