Lawyer’s Scheduling Conflict Delays Trial for 2022 Attempted Murder Defendant

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On June 1, an attempted murder defendant had his trial delayed due to a scheduling conflict in Baltimore City Circuit Court.

Defendant Taron Whiting’s attorney Donald C. Wright was representing another client in a different trial at the time he was set to appear before Judge M. Brook Murdock.

During the defendant’s reception court hearing on Thursday, the prosecutor offered Whiting a plea of life, suspending all but 25 years with five years of supervised probation for attempted first-degree murder and a consecutive five years without the possibility of parole for use of a firearm in a felony violent crime. The defendant would have also been required to stay away from the victim.

Whiting rejected the offered plea.

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn rescheduled the 20-year-old defendant’s trial to begin on Oct. 2 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer.

Judge Phinn said she would not postpone the trial again for the defense.

According to the Maryland Judiciary site, Whiting is charged with attempted first and second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, firearm use in a felony violent crime, possession of a firearm as a minor, having a handgun on his person, illegal ammunition possession, and discharging a firearm in connection to an incident on July 1, 2022.

As stated in court documents, on the day of the incident, officers responded to the 600 block of Laurens Street, where they found the victim suffering from a single gunshot wound. Investigating officers found four gun cartridge casings on the scene.

CCTV and City Watch cameras were also able to partially capture the incident, helping officers identify Whiting as a suspect.