The sentencing for an attempted murder defendant was postponed on Oct. 22 as parties argued over the time to be served.
Terrell Parker was found guilty earlier this year of attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, firearm use in a felony violent crime, reckless endangerment, two counts of illegal possession of a regulated firearm, having a loaded handgun on his person, having a handgun on his person, illegal possession of ammunition and discharging a firearm within Baltimore City in connection to a shooting that resulted in the loss of the victim’s left eye. According to court documents, Parker was detained after he posted himself at the scene of the crime and with the suspected weapon.
The prosecution began the sentencing by advising the judge that Parker should serve the maximum number of years provided by each charge, adding up to incarceration for life plus thirty five years without the possibility of parole.
The prosecutor claimed that he posed a risk to the safety of people living in his neighborhood, as the witnesses in the case were “visibly terrified of him” based on their body language while in court, and because the shooting occurred “over something insignificant”.
Defense attorney Donald Wright rebutted by invoking Parker’s status as a father of four young children. He described Parker’s crime could not be a judge of his character, but was circumstantial to his state of neurological damage from his past as a high school athlete, grief for his recently murdered brother, and overcoming addiction, all which he “endured without council”.
Judge Troy K. Hill interrupted the defense, calling the attorneys to the stand for a brief exchange, to announce the postponement shortly after. The sentencing is now scheduled for December 18th at the circuit court of Howard County.
