’39 Babies’ Gang Defense Granted Mistrial in Light of Supreme Court Ruling

By Andrew Michaels - June 23, 2023
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

A mistrial was declared in the case of ’39 Babies’ gang co-defendants Gregory Beadles and Donye Thompson on June 22 after a witness’ testimony conflicted with a Supreme Court ruling that occurred days earlier.

During the trial on June 16, the prosecution called a firearms examiner to the stand to discuss the comparison of firearm evidence with bullets found at the crime scene. The witness testified that the bullets could match—a comparison that the Supreme Court ruled witnesses could no longer make as of a ruling on June 20.

According to Maryland Courts, the ruling states that expert witnesses cannot testify that a bullet matches a specific gun, but instead, testify that their characteristics are similar.

Defense attorney James Sweeting III, who represents Thompson, told Baltimore Witness that the ruling applied to the case as the trial had not concluded prior to the ruling. Sweeting and Beadles’ defense attorney, Staci Pipkin, requested the mistrial on June 21.

After Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Cynthia Jones granted the mistrial on Thursday, the duo’s case was sent to Judge Melissa Phinn, who scheduled the case to return to reception court on July 17 to set a new trial date. Sweeting said he will continue with his motion to severe Thompson and Beadles’ cases and will stand in for Pipkin at the next hearing.

The co-defendants’ cases are part of an indictment linking 11 gang members to eight attempted murders and four homicides, according to CBS Baltimore.