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By
Alyssia Davis [former]
- May 17, 2023
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Shooting
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Suspects
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Victims
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On May 16, a prosecutor made a global plea offer, giving a homicide defendant the maximum sentence for two murder cases before Baltimore CIty Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland.
Aamir Benton and his defense counsel, James Sweeting, rejected a global plea offer for two life sentences, plus 40 years.
In one case, Benton, 23, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, use of a firearm during a felony violent crime, conspiracy to commit the use of a firearm during a felony violent crime, possession of a firearm with a felony conviction, having a handgun in a vehicle, having a handgun on his person in connection to the murder of 31-year-old Phillip Wallace on the 4800 block of Pimlico Road on June 30, 2022.
In another case, Benton is also charged with two counts of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, first-degree assault, conspiracy to commit first-degree assault, two counts of use of a firearm during a felony violent crime, possession of a firearm with a felony conviction, having a handgun in a vehicle, having a handgun on his person in connection to an incident on Sept. 28, 2022.
Following the defendant’s rejection of the plea, Sweeting informed Judge Copeland that he is not prepared for trial because he recently received the remaining evidence last week and needs to go over it with Benton and his family.
Benton’s trial was scheduled for Oct. 16 with Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jeffery Gellar presiding. It is expected to last five days.