Accused Manslaughter Defendant Gets December Trial

By Andrew Michaels - August 20, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

A Baltimore man charged with manslaughter rejected a plea and received a trial date on Aug. 19 after Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn found probable cause to schedule the trial after his Hick’s date.

A Hick’s date is a defendant’s right under Maryland law to be tried within 180 days of his first court appearance.

On Thursday, Judge Phinn scheduled the trial of Jerry Hill, 27, for Dec. 8. Hill is charged with manslaughter by vehicle; manslaughter due to criminal negligence; and 15 traffic violation charges in connection to an incident on July 16, 2020.

He is represented by defense attorneys Bryan Mobley and Maureen Rowland.

Prior to scheduling the trial, the prosecution offered Hill a plea of 10 years, suspending all but five years, for manslaughter by vehicle.

He also received pleas for five separate traffic violations, including 10 years, suspending all but five years, to run concurrent with the manslaughter charge; and 10 years, suspending all but five years; five years, suspending all but three years; five years suspending all but two years; and another 5 years, suspending all but two years, all of which would be served consecutively.

Mobley rejected the offer on Hill’s behalf. Although the defendant declined to waive his Hick’s date, the prosecutor and defense said they couldn’t align their schedules, so Judge Phinn pushed the trial to December.