Freddie Gray death: What is ‘depraved-heart’ murder?

One Baltimore officer was charged with second-degree depraved-heart murder

Six Baltimore police officers have been charged in the death of Freddie Gray, the 25-year-old man who died while in police custody last month.

One charge, in particular, stood out above the rest: the charge of second-degree depraved-heart murder. It rose above the several other charges not just because it was the most severe charge handed out by Baltimore City State Prosecutor Marilyn Mosby, but because of its obscure name.

So, what is depraved-heart murder?

“A depraved-heart murder is often described as a wanton and wilful killing,” according to a legal definition quoted in The Atlantic. “The term ‘depraved heart’ means something more than conduct amounting to a high or unreasonable risk to human life. The perpetrator must realize the risk his behaviour has created to the extent that his conduct may be termed wilful. Moreover, the conduct must contain an element of viciousness or contemptuous disregard for the value of human life which conduct characterizes that behaviour as wanton.”

Caesar Goodson – the officer charged with depraved-heart murder – may be facing that charge because of Baltimore’s history of so-called rough rides, a practice where police intentionally drive erratically to throw a suspect around in the back of a police vehicle.

Ms Mosby said Friday that the officers did not buckle Mr Gray into the back of the paddy wagon and that her investigation showed that he died as a result of not being belted in the police vehicle.

Mr Goodson could face up to 30 years in prison if he is convicted of the depraved-heart murder charge.

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