Trial Continued Pending Motion to Sever Charges in 2022 Oliver Street Murder

By Hannah Rainer [former] - October 11, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Suspects |

On Oct. 11, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Myshala E. Middleton heard the defense ask for a motion to sever offenses prior to being sent to reception court.     

Tyshaun Williams, 19, was charged with over 60 counts in relation which include first-degree murder, robbery, first-degree assault, armed carjacking, firearm use in a felony violent crime, reckless endangerment from a car and possession of firearm or ammunition as a minor.

Defense attorney Megan A. Lewis alongside co-counsel Robert Linthicum said since Williams is facing more than 60 charges that span across four separate incidents the defense argued the overlapping evidence would be inadmissible. Moreover, Lewis and Linthicum stated that keeping the charges joined would create a perception of bias in a prospective jury.

The prosecution argued against the defense’s claims, stating that in light of judicial economy, the charges should not be separated. They countered defense claims that the offenses were highly dissimilar to each other, stating that evidence found in two of the later crimes were actually obtained from a prior one.

Judge Middleton explained she would take time considering the matter before issuing a written opinion.

Ultimately, the case was sent across the street to reception court Baltimore City Circuit Court where Judge Melissa M. Phinn continued the case until the motion to sever issue was resolved.

The parties are expected back in reception court on Nov. 7 to schedule an official trial date.

According to Maryland District Court documents, Williams was charged in a series of armed carjackings and robberies, also suspected to be a part of an organized crime group. He is also charged in relation to the murder of Deontay Edwards, 19, who was shot in a drive-by shooting around the 1700 block of Oliver Street. All of these crimes occurred in the month of July 2022.