BALTIMORE, United States. The family of Freddie Gray, who died after suffering a spinal cord injury in police custody, has reached a $6.4m (£4.1m) wrongful death settlement with the city of Baltimore.
The tentative agreement requires approval by the city’s board of estimates, which is scheduled to meet on Wednesday.
Mr Gray died in April after suffering a spinal cord injury when he was detained.
Six police officers are facing trial over the 25-year-old’s death, which sparked unrest across the city.
Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said the pending settlement with Mr Gray’s family “should not be interpreted as a judgment on the guilt or innocence of the officers”.
“This settlement is being proposed solely because it is in the best interest of the city, and avoids costly and protracted litigation that would only make it more difficult for our city to heal and potentially cost taxpayers many millions more in damages,” she said in a statement.
A medical examiner found that Mr Gray suffered a “high-energy injury” and his death was ruled a homicide.
State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby said an independent investigation found a pattern of negligence by the officers after Mr Gray was arrested and placed into a police van on 12 April.
A grand jury indicted officers William Porter, Edward Nero, Garrett Miller and Caesar Goodson Jr, Sergeant Alicia White, and Lieutenant Brian Rice.
The charges range from second-degree murder to manslaughter, second-degree assault and misconduct.
A judge ruled last week the officers would face separate trials.
A pre-trial hearing later this week will determine whether the case should be moved from Baltimore due to the publicity surrounding the trial.
Mr Gray’s death prompted a string of mostly peaceful protests, but the unrest turned to violence within hours of his funeral on 27 April.
Some 2,000 National Guard troops in addition to state police were called in to help restore calm after the protests spiralled into chaos.
More than 230 people were arrested as rioters looted stores, burned buildings and vehicles and hurled stones and bricks at police.
Baltimore’s police commissioner was sacked in July amid a citywide spike in killings following the riots.
The city has seen 223 homicides this year alone, more than for all of 2014, according to a tally by the Baltimore Sun.
Credit: Sky News
