Defendant Agrees to Testify Against Co-Defendant in North Franklintown Road Homicide Case

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Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jeannie J. Hong sent a homicide defendant’s case to reception court to reschedule his trial on Aug. 9.

Judge Melissa M. Phinn continued defendant Ronnie Harris’ hearing to Aug. 14 in order to set a new trial date. The defendant’s attorney, Andre Mahasa, asked the trial be postponed because Harris’ co-defendant, 40-year-old Morgan Reed, had accepted a plea and agreed to testify against him the morning of his trial. Mahasa said that this new development meant he needed more time to prepare.

Harris, 40, is charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony or violent crime, having a handgun on his person, possessing a firearm with a felony conviction and inducing or inhibiting testimony for a felony offender in connection with a 2022 homicide.

According to court documents, on Jan. 31, James Moore, 31, was found shot multiple times on the 3400 block of North Franklintown Road and was pronounced dead at the scene. After a preliminary investigation, police charged Harris with first-degree murder.

Reed and Janay Barksdale were charged with accessory after the fact to first and second-degree murder, retaliation, witness intimidation and conspiracy to commit retaliation for their involvement.