Counsel Request Mutual Postponement for Halloween 2015 Murder Trial

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A 34-year-old homicide defendant stood before Baltimore City Court Judge Ronald A. Silkworth for trial in connection to a murder on Halloween 2015.

Anthony Burris is charged with second-degree murder and firearm use in a felony violent crime.

Defense attorney, Nicholas Madiou, and the assistant state’s attorney approached Judge Silkworth with a joint postponement request. Madiou indicated that Burris’s regular defense attorney, Michael Lawlor was unable to be present today as he was trying another case in Washington, DC.

The assistant state’s attorney indicated that their essential witness was not able to be present because she was on bed rest after recently having a child.

Judge Silkworth accepted the joint request and advised the parties to go before Baltimore City Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland for a new trial date.

There, they reiterated their request and Judge Copeland set the next trial date for Aug. 12.

According to documents from the Appellate Court of Maryland, Burris was first tried and convicted in this case on Oct. 16, 2017 but successfully appealed the case on the basis he didn’t have an impartial jury.

On Oct. 31, 2015, previous coverage indicated that according to the Appellate Court of Maryland, the Baltimore Police Department dispatched officers to the 1100 block of Laurens Street for a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they found the victim, 31-year-old Earl Burton on the ground and was pronounced dead on Nov. 3, 2015. Medical examiners indicated the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head.

Police investigators were able to identify Burris as the suspect through witness statements and photo arrays. Burris has been diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder and lingering psychosis,

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