Homicide Defendant’s Defense Counsel Motions to Suppress Firearm Examiners Testimony

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On Jan. 13, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Lynn Stewart Mays continued a homicide defendant’s hearing for a week regarding a motion to suppress all firearm testimony in an ongoing case.

Shawn Purvis is charged with first-degree murder, the use of a firearm during a felony violent crime, two counts of possession of a firearm with a felony conviction, and having a handgun on his person in connection to an incident on June 3, 2021.

According to court documents, on the day of the incident, officers were called to the 1900 block of E. 20th Street for reports of a shooting. On arrival, officers found an unresponsive 47-year-old Ali Bey lying in the street.

The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene by medics.

Defense counsel Janine Meckler motioned to suppress all firearm testimony in the 52-year-old defendant’s upcoming trial due to the firearm examiner’s lack of documentation supporting her results.

Meckler said the firearm examiner did not follow their procedure, and no other examiner reviewed their work.

The prosecutor, however, left the decision up to Judge Mays, saying that based on the Daubert standard, it was up to the judge to determine whether an expert witness’ scientific testimony is supported by relevant facts.

According to the prosecutor, the process was deemed dependable by Obama’s office for forensic scientists. He also attested that the error rate for the procedure is under five percent.

Judge Mays said she found the examiner’s work to be reliable but would like for the prosecutor to call in the examiner to get a better understanding of their step-by-step process.

Judge Mays continued Purvis’ hearing for Jan. 24 at 11:00 a.m.