Counsel Waiting on DNA Results in Murder Trial

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The prosecution in a murder trial said they are waiting on DNA results during a pre-trial conference on Sept. 28 at Baltimore City Circuit Court.

Donte Brown, 39, is accused of killing 22-year-old Tavon Hutton on March 5 around 6:30 p.m. on the 400 block of West Saratoga Street.

Brown is charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime, having a loaded handgun on his person, having a handgun on his person, and two counts of firearm possession with a felony conviction.

A plea offer was presented for life, suspending all but 60 years, and five years of probation for first-degree murder, and 20 years, the first five without parole, for handgun use in a felony violent crime, to be served concurrently. However, it has neither been accepted or rejected at this time.

During a pre-trial conference on Thursday, the prosecution alerted Judge Melissa Phinn that she and the defense are awaiting DNA results. No defense attorney was listed for Brown on the Maryland Judiciary website.

The prosecution also said that this will be a convoluted trial because the defendant was on the run before his arrest.

Brown’s trial is scheduled for Nov. 1.

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