Attempted Murder Defendant Receives Trial Date for 2022 Chapel Street Homicide

By Inacent McKeithan [former] , Ashleigh Joplin [former] - January 26, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

A Baltimore woman charged with attempted murder received a trial date during her reception court hearing before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn on Jan. 26. 

The prosecutor notified the court that they were unprepared to offer a plea on Thursday to defendant Saidah Williams, stating that verification would be needed from a supervisor to provide an offer. 

The defendant was informed that her defense attorney, Warren Brown, was unavailable before her May 8 Hick’s date — which is her right to be tried within 180 days of her or her lawyer’s initial court appearance. Due to the defendant’s confusion surrounding the date’s significance, Judge Phinn allowed Williams to retain her constitutional rights to a speedy trial. 

Due to Brown’s unavailability, Judge Phinn found probable cause to go beyond the defendant’s Hicks date and has scheduled Willams’ trial date for July 17 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Kendra Y. Ausby. 

Judge Phinn instructed the defense attorney standing in to tell Brown to call her to address the apparent lack of communication between him and his client before the scheduled hearing. 

According to CBS Baltimore News, Williams was placed under arrest on Sep. 15, 2022, and charged with shooting a 31-year-old male in the chest on the 1800 block of Chapel Street on Sep. 8, 2022.

Williams is charged with attempted first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, use of a firearm in a felony violent crime, conspiracy to use a firearm in a felony violent crime, attempted second-degree murder, one count each of first and second-degree assault, conspiracy to commit a first- degree assault, conspiracy to commit a second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, accessory after the fact, having a loaded handgun in a vehicle, and having a handgun in a vehicle.