Acquitted: Homicide Defendant’s Fate Lies in Jury’s Hands

By Alyssia Davis [former] - November 10, 2021
Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

Editor’s note: The defendant was acquitted of charges in this case. 

During closing arguments, defense counsel questioned the Baltimore Police Department’s competence during a homicide trial, alleging a lack of investigating on Nov. 8 before Baltimore City Circuit Court.

William Andrew Wright, 33, is charged with first-degree murder, use of a firearm in a violet crime, having a handgun on his person, and reckless endangerment for allegedly shooting 43-year-old Gregory Cason on Sept. 11, 2018, on the 2900 block of E. Monument Street. 

During closing arguments, the prosecution said the victim’s girlfriend deserved to be heard and for her testimony to be judged fairly. She then reiterated how the victim’s girlfriend witnessed the father of her children was gunned down in front of her and that the defendant left, came back and shot Cason multiple times, which is classified as premeditated murder. 

The victim’s girlfriend identified Wright as the shooter in a photo array. 

In addition, the prosecutor said that prior to the incident, the victim and his girlfriend were arguing with one another. The girlfriend said she was screaming at the police because they were not doing anything to help and would not allow her to go to the hospital to see Cason. 

The victim’s girlfriend had to sneak out of the house to go see her boyfriend in the hospital, she said, but Cason was dead when she arrived. A week later, the victim’s girlfriend spoke to homicide detectives indicating she was ready to talk about what happened that day. 

Prosecution added that the victim’s girlfriend knew the defendant for years prior to the shooting and saw him as a family friend.

Defense attorney Shannon Heery argued that police barely did any investigation. They did not care about prior statements that were made by the victim’s girlfriend nor did the lead detective speak with other officers about what information they received. 

In his testimony, the detective noted that he was not the first to arrive at the scene and that although he watched the body camera thoroughly and reviewed some reports, he did not write anything down. The detective also presumed Wright to be guilty without looking at any evidence, Heery said. 

Heery added that police completely missed an entire car sitting at the crime scene with bullets in it and had to return the next day to retrieve the vehicle. Defense counsel also inquired about other things the police might have missed during their investigation. 

Heery concluded her closing arguments by saying that the police only listened to what the victim’s girlfriend said and tried closing the case. The victim’s girlfriend constantly lied on the witness stand, Heery said, and even stated that she lied and was nonchalant about it.

“She lies when it’s convenient to her,” Heery said.  

The victim’s girlfriend falsely accused Wright of shooting and killing Cason and the cops charged the wrong person, Heery said.

There was little to no evidence to prove that Wright actually committed the crime, and although there were gun shell casings at the scene, there was no gun or fingerprints found, according to the crime scene technician. 

Defense noted that according to police, the shooter did not have on any distinct clothing. 

Heery then showed a video to the jury of the incident, displaying a random vehicle reversing down the street near an alley. Heery suggested that the vehicle in the video is a part of the alleged shooting that took place. 

Judge Yvette Bryant presided.  

Jury deliberations began on the morning of Nov. 9.