Baltimore Man Heads to Trial after Rejecting Plea Deal

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A Baltimore man charged with homicide rejected a plea offered by the prosecution on Sept. 9 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn.

Jaquan Burks, represented by defense attorney Isabel Lipman, turned down an offer of life in prison, suspending all but 60 years with three years probation for first-degree murder.  

According to court documents, 29-year-old Burks allegedly shot and killed Emmanuel Cruz on July 9, 2018, outside The Haven Lounge on the 400 block of N. Haven Street.

A trial date has been set for March 8, 2023, with Judge Althea Handy presiding, and is expected to last five days.