Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Christopher Panos denied bail to a Baltimore man charged with murder on Jan. 20.
Defendant Ronald Eaton Cornish, who was represented by defense attorney Jennifer Smith, was convicted in 2016 of murder and weapons charges in connection to an incident on Nov. 7, 2012, and sentenced to a total of life plus 20 years in prison.
However, in December 2021, the defendant’s conviction was overturned when an eyewitness changed his testimony after new evidence showed he was at the crime scene and would be charged if he didn’t testify against Cornish.
According to court documents, the victim, 26-year-old Warren Boone, was found fatally shot in the woods outside an apartment complex on the 5100 block of Goodnow Road. The victim’s mother and girlfriend notified Baltimore City Police that Baltimore County police found Boone’s car on fire a few miles away.
It was later discovered in a police interview that an acquaintance of Boone arranged for him to purchase marijuana from the defendant. During the interview, the acquaintance of the victim identified the defendant as the alleged shooter.
Judge Panos said that Friday’s hearing was ordered by Judge Melissa Phinn to discuss whether the defendant was eligible for pretrial release.
The prosecutor said she believed that the 36-year-old defendant was not eligible for pretrial release because he is currently detained in Georgia for another case. The prosecutor also recommended the defendant be denied bail, which Smith did not contest.
Cornish’s next hearing is scheduled for March 27.
