A Baltimore Circuit Court jury composed primarily of white citizens will hear the case against three former correction officers charged with the beating death of Raymond Smoot, 52, at the Baltimore Central Booking and Intake Center in 2005.
Attorneys on Tuesday selected eight white citizens, two Asian citizens, and two black citizens, both women, to hear the charges against Dameon Woods, Nathan Colbert and James Hatcher, who face counts of second-degree murder, assault and conspiracy in Smoot?s death.
Smoot and the three officers, who have pleaded not guilty, are black.
Along with the criminal trial, which will begin with oral arguments today, the men face a $130 million wrongful death lawsuit filed by Smoot?s family.
Smoot?s family is suing the state prison system, along with the officers.
Smoot?s death also prompted the FBI to open a separate civil rights investigation.
Smoot died May 14, 2005, after a struggle broke out involving 25 to 30 guards, during which officers repeatedly stomped and beat Smoot, said A. Dwight Pettit, the attorney for Smoot?s family.
Pettit said the court is waiting for the outcome of the criminal case before pursuing the family?s civil lawsuit.
“It?s an important case not only because of the horrific death of Mr. Smoot, but because it showed the need for reform at Central Booking, which historically has subjected people to horrible conditions,” Pettit said.
“The conditions existed far too long, and everybody knew about it, and they were still allowed to exist.”
Central Booking was built to process up to 45,000 people annually, but has been used to process more than double that number every year, causing many people to be held for more than the legal limit of 24 hours after an arrest.
Pettit said defense attorneys recently have noticed an improvement in the conditions at Central Booking, but lawsuits such as Smoot?s family?s are often the best impetus for reform.
“People take notice when you seek monetary damages,” he said.
State officials terminated eight correctional officers at Central Booking after Smoot?s death.
