Defense Attorney Alerts Court of Discovery Issues in Killing of Baltimore Police Officer Case

By Andrew Michaels - May 13, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Defense counsel for one of the co-defendants charged for the murder of Baltimore Police Department Officer Keona Holley said the assistant state’s attorney did not release its witness list during pre-trial motions on May 13.

Elliot Knox and Travon Shaw were arrested in December, the day after allegedly shooting Officer Holley. According to police, the two men ambushed the officer shortly after 1:30 a.m. when she was sitting in her patrol car on the 4400 block of Pennington Avenue.

The men were also charged with another homicide on the 600 block of Lucia Avenue about two hours after the shooting.

Officer Holley was taken off of life support a week later.

Both defendants are charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to first-degree murder, firearm use during a felony violent crime, firearm possession with a felony conviction, and having a loaded handgun on their person and in a vehicle.

On Friday, Matthew Connell, Shaw’s defense attorney, told Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn that he sent the prosecutor five discovery letters but has yet to receive a witness list. He then cited a Maryland Court Rule that defines the prosecution’s obligations to provide names, addresses, and phone numbers of all witnesses within 30 days after counsel’s last court appearance.

According to the Maryland Judiciary website, Shaw was last scheduled for an arraignment on March 7, which was cancelled. He was previously denied bail on Feb. 17.

Connell said he only received information for seven out of the 217 witnesses he counted in the discovery.

He and his client do not intend to waive Shaw’s October Hick’s date, which is a defendant’s right to be tried within 180 days of their or their attorney’s first court appearance and will be prepared for trial on July 22 when Shaw and Knox are currently scheduled to return to reception court.

The prosecution, who said there is a “pretty massive” amount of discovery, countered that Connell has received the witness list and that “it’s premature to list everyone out” as the prosecution is still determining an official witness list.

Knox’s defense attorney, Christopher Flohr, had no issues with discovery, informing the court that he has been in touch with the prosecution over the past few months and is receiving ongoing discovery.

No offer has been made at this time, and a trial date is to be determined.

Judge Phinn asked counsel to discuss a trial date within the Hick’s timeframe.