Thank you for reading Baltimore Witness.
Help us continue our mission into 2025 by donating to our end of year campaign.
By
Samira Cobon [former]
- April 18, 2024
Court
|
Daily Stories
|
Homicides
|
Non-Fatal Shooting
|
Shooting
|
Victims
|
Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland sentenced 60-year-old George Pullet to serve life in prison plus 55 years, the first five years without the possibility of parole.
In a hearing on April 11, the prosecution pleaded with Judge Copeland to sentence the defendant to life in prison plus 95 years, the first 15 years without the possibility of parole. The reason says the prosecution–Pullet has no intention to abide by the law, referring to his track record of prior convictions and the “pack of heroin on him” found when he was previously arrested for second-degree murder.
The fifty-four-year-old victim, Randolph Watson, was shot by Pullet on May 21, 2020, on the 100 block of South Morgan Street. His widow addressed Judge Copeland saying she constantly misses her late husband’s “smile, his smell,” and waits for his calls that she will never receive as a result of Pullet’s actions.
According to the defense, Pullet’s upbringing is to blame for his criminal conduct. Pullet “never had a supportive, loving foster family.” He ended up in the streets, the defense told Judge Copeland.
“If he just had the chance for someone to be there for him, we wouldn’t be here today,” the defense said. She asked Judge Copeland to take Pullet’s age and upbringing into consideration when deciding his sentence. “I don’t think he is beyond hope,” stated the defense.
Pullet said he is aware of the mental health services he needs to fix resulting from the trauma he has experienced. However, he maintained his innocence, telling the judge, “I didn’t kill that man…I didn’t commit this murder.”
Judge Copeland concluded that she had “to focus on punishment and deterrence,” not on rehabilitation since Pullet’s record showed he could not be rehabilitated.
Pullet was sentenced to serve a consecutive 20 years for second-degree attempted murder, life for first-degree murder, 20 years for the use of a firearm and 15 years for illegal possession of a firearm.