Photographic Identification Debated in Juvenile Murder Trial

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In a trial on June 2 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Althea M. Handy, 17-year-old murder defendant Samijae Canada’s mother grew visibly emotional as she and her family members watched rhe proceedings.

A woman familiar with Canada previously identified him after police provided a set of photographs to the witness. However, defense attorney Megan Lewis questioned the reliability of her identification, pointing out that one photo only showed the back of Canada’s head, and that the woman couldn’t recall key dates.

Officers allegedly failed to give her context about the photographs, but the prosecution argued her history of interacting with Canada strengthened her credibility.

Canada is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one each of felony firearm use, firearm possession as a minor, and carrying a handgun in connection to the murder of Robert Wagner, 18, in 2023. Due to the severity of his charges, Canada is being tried in adult criminal court, rather than as a juvenile.

According to charging documents, on Aug. 17, 2023, at approximately 11:36 p.m., Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers responded to a shooting at the intersection of the 600 block of Cherry Blossom Way and the 600 block of W. Saratoga Street. Upon arrival, they located Wagner in his 2020 Kia Sorento SUV, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his head and body.

A citywide enforcement detective said he encountered three individuals near a store on Saratoga Street about a week before Sept. 21. He identified Canada from a photo, but never made a formal lineup identification.