Alleged Murderer Rejects Plea for Third Time

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Alleged murderer Darell Wendell Roberts rejected a plea offer for the third time on Aug. 24 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn, who scheduled his trial for October.

The 41-year-old Baltimore resident is charged with attempted first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and use of a deadly weapon with the intent to injure for an incident on Feb. 25, 2020.

On Tuesday, the prosecution offered Roberts life, suspending all but 35 years, with five years supervised probation for attempted first-degree murder. Under the plea, Roberts must also complete anger management classes and stay away from the surviving victim.

Defense attorney Todd Oppenheim told Judge Phinn that Roberts rejected the offer. Roberts also declined to waive his October Hick’s date—his right to be tried within 180 days of his first court appearance—but Judge Phinn found cause to delay his trial one day after his Hick’s date.

Judge Phinn scheduled Roberts’ trial for Oct. 12; however, his trial is scheduled for Oct. 22, according to the Maryland Judiciary website.

The defendant’s case was previously heard in reception court on Aug. 12 when Roberts rejected the same plea for a second time.