Defendant Anticipates Home Detention While Awaiting Retrial for 2017 Double Homicide

By Sara Palmer [former] - January 18, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | stabbing | Suspects | Victims |

After nearly seven years of incarceration, Willie Lewis Billinger was granted home detention pending a letter of approval on Jan. 17 as he awaits a retrial for a 2017 double homicide.

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Anthony F. Vittoria said he would approve the defendant’s release on home detention after receiving ASAP’s (Advantage Sentencing Alternative Programs) letter approving the release from defense attorney Deborah Levi.

Billinger is charged with two counts of second-degree murder for allegedly stabbing Earline Thomas and Howard Martin to death on March 14, 2017, at an apartment on the 2400 block of St. Paul Street. After a year-long litigation in 2023, Judge Melissa M. Phinn granted the defendant a retrial, citing so-called Brady violations, including a record of false statements and arrests from the case’s lead homicide detective.

During Wednesday’s proceedings, Levie informed the court that defense counsel was never advised of these findings.

The prosecution asked Judge Vittoria to continue to hold Billinger without bail, saying there was no condition for his release that would be safe for the public. Levi argued this was untrue, noting that Billinger had been previously granted compassionate release to attend his mother’s funeral.

The defense alleged there is no evidence against Billinger except for a single witness. In December 2023, the prosecution motioned to use this witness’ testimony from Billinger’s first trial during the retrial; however, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Robert K. Taylor Jr. denied the motion.

Without this testimony, the prosecutor said he will not be ready for the retrial, which currently scheduled for Jan 26.