Jury Hears Opening Statements in 2023 Attempted Murder

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Parties debated whether an attempted murder victim was actually shot in the head during opening statements before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn on May 30.

On Aug. 29, Baltimore Police Department detectives arrested Larry Winder III. He was charged with first- and second-degree attempted murder, first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, illegal possession of ammunition, carrying a handgun on his person, firearm use in a felony violent crime and discharging a firearm in Baltimore City for an Aug. 20, 2023, incident on the 4800 block of Beauford Avenue.

The prosecution told the jury that the victim arrived at the hospital with a head wound from a baseball bat. A CT scan later revealed metal fragments in the victim’s skull, leading investigators to believe that the victim was additionally shot in the head.

“We can’t guarantee it is a bullet,” said defense attorney Roland Harris, as he noted that there was neither a gun nor shell casings recovered at the scene and no evidence of gunfire at the back of Winder’s temporary home. Harris told the jury that police officers approached the victim with a single photo of their suspected perpetrator, rather than an array, arguing that they entered their investigation “wanting a name.”

Harris concluded his opening statement saying the case is “full of warning signs.”

The trial is expected to continue through the end of the week.