Defense and Prosecution Argue Over Wording of Defendant’s Charges

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A defense attorney argued March 25 with the prosecution over the decision to use “conspiracy to commit murder that resulted in death” in charging language for a homicide defendant.

Khaliel Strong-Council, 24, is charged with first-degree murder, first-degree assault, conspiracy to commit first-degree assault, robbery, and conspiracy to commit robbery in connection to the May 26, 2024 fatal stomping of Marcus Brown, 38. According to police documents another individual was involved, but Baltimore Witness could not find a criminal record on the individual.

“He did not murder the victim, did not conspire to murder the victim, did not assault the victim, did not conspire to assault the victim, did not rob the victim, did not conspire to rob the victim,” Strong-Council’s defense attorney Brandon Taylor said before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Michael A. DiPietro.

There is video footage of Strong-Council allegedly exiting a Royal Farms store located on the 1500 block of Russell Street. He is seen approaching the victim’s body, and returning to his car. He then left his car again and returned to the body before turning back to his car.

The defense argued that the prosecution’s video evidence alone could not prove Strong-Council’s intent and emphasized that he did not touch the victim’s body.

However, the prosecutor countered by noting that Strong-Council moved a fair amount in the video. He said he could not rule out the possibility that Strong-Council made physical contact with the victim.

The trial is scheduled to continue on March 26