Ongoing Plea Negotiations Delay Vehicular Manslaughter Defendant’s Hearing

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On Nov. 6, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Dana M. Middleton continued a 35-year-old vehicular manslaughter defendant’s hearing to allow further plea negotiations.

Russell Anthony Edwards, Jr., is charged with a traffic violation, vehicular manslaughter and criminally negligent vehicular manslaughter in connection to an Aug. 10, 2020, incident.

Though the assigned prosecutor could not attend this hearing because he was before another judge, his stand-in told the court that he would need to review the defense attorney David Shapiro’s counter offer. The stand-in asked Judge Middleton if the case could be held over to tomorrow’s docket in order to accommodate that. 

An agent from the Criminal Assignment Office told the court that there were already 30 defendants scheduled for reception court tomorrow, so it would be better if counsel could agree to come back later this month. 

Judge Middleton continued the hearing to Nov. 14, when Edwards is expected to take the modified plea. Again, the assigned prosecutor will not be present due being specially set in another matter, but another assistant state’s attorney will appear.