Defendant Rodney Harris began jury selection on March 13 for assaulting his pregnant girlfriend and killing their unborn child nearly five years ago.
During a brief appearance in reception court, counsel informed Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn that they were ready for trial. The defendant, defense attorney Latoya Francis-Williams, and the prosecutor were sent from Judge Melissa Copeland’s courtroom, where the case was discussed earlier that morning.
Judge Phinn said the case was scheduled incorrectly and should not have gone before Judge Copeland before sending the case to jury selection before Judge Cynthia Jones.
The 30-year-old defendant was previously tried and convicted of the crime in 2020 when he was sentenced to 35 years in prison, the Baltimore Sun reported. An appeal was granted the following year.
Harris is facing manslaughter and first and second-degree assault in connection to the incident on April 4, 2018. The Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City initially reported that the defendant punched and kicked his girlfriend, who was 26 weeks pregnant, in the stomach during a dispute.
The unborn child was stillborn.
