Acquitted: Attempted Murder Defendant Trial Begins

By Alyssia Davis [former] , Alyssia Davis [former], Alyssia Davis [former], Alyssia Davis [former] - October 13, 2021
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Victims |

Editor’s note: The defendant was acquitted of charges in this case. 

An attempted murder defendant’s defense attorney kicked off his client’s trial on Oct. 13 by claiming that the defendant was not behind the shooting of a victim, but rather a group of juveniles were to blame. 

Marvin Henry, 34, is charged with five counts of first-degree attempted murder, five counts of second-degree attempted murder, five counts of first-degree assault, five counts of second-degree murder, five counts of reckless endangerment, use of a firearm in a violent crime, having a handgun on his person, firing a gun within the city of Baltimore, and two counts of possession of a firearm with a felony conviction. 

He is charged in connection to an incident on June 16, 2020. 

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Kendra Y. Ausby presided over the trial, along with 12 jurors, who were chosen earlier that morning. 

During his opening statement, the prosecutor noted that not only will he prove that Henry shot the victim on June 16, 2020, but there will be documents as well as video evidence that will prove his guilt. Before the incident occurred, he said, there was an argument that took place at a playground near an elementary school between two groups of people about some teenagers harassing elementary students. 

The prosecutor said the victim will testify to hearing approximately 10 gunshots. He also said there were approximately three shooters, and the victim will identify one of the shooters as Henry. 

During the defense attorney’s opening statement, Michael Munafo, Henry’s defense attorney said there was another incident before the shooting took place on the property of a nearby elementary school. Munafo said there were approximately 20 young teens harassing some elementary students. 

Munafo said a witness to the incident spoke out to the young teens and began calling them derogatory names such as the n-word . The defense also said the witness is the same height, skin color, and build as the victim and has the same hairstyle as the victim in the case. 

Munafo indicated that the victim and the witness could have been the same person. 

The victim of the alleged shooting is slated to be the first witness to testify on behalf of the prosecution.

The trial is set to continue on Oct. 14.