Defendant Makes Obscene Outburst Before Judge in Double-Murder Case

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Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland denied homicide defendant Daquan Woodard’s request for a trial postponement on Feb. 19 after Woodard attempted to discharge his defense attorney.

Woodard, 22, faces two counts each of first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime, and illegal possession of a regulated firearm.

At 9:48 pm on Feb. 7, 2024, officers responded to a shooting incident in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven located at 4401 Belair Road. Victims Odell Curtis, 38, and Ricardo Brooks-Watters, 33, were found with multiple gunshot wounds and later succumbed to their injuries. Curtis was pronounced deceased that evening and Brooks-Watters four days later. Woodard allegedly confessed to the shootings in a taped statement.

At his Feb. 19 hearing, Woodard expressed concerns to Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer about his defense attorney, Maureen O’leary.

“I feel like she’s not going to fight for me,” he said. “My life shouldn’t be in her hands.”

Judge Schiffer acknowledged Woodard’s statement and clarified his right to discharge his attorney, but noted that it would not justify a postponement.

“That’s f*cking crazy,” he said. “I can’t postpone.”

“I trust you’re not going to act like that in front of Judge Copeland,” said Judge Schiffer, who appeared frustrated as she referred the matter to Judge Copeland’s courtroom.

In Judge Copeland’s courtroom, O’leary offered to file a request for new counsel in administrative court and emphasized Woodard’s constitutional right to choose his attorney.

The prosecution opposed the request, noting that Woodard raised the issue of his trial date despite having ample time to hire new counsel.

The prosecution further argued that a postponement would waste the time and money of a key witness scheduled to fly from Utah to testify about a video capturing the incident.

O’leary suggested waiving the witness testimony, noting that while the video provided evidence of the incident, it did not directly identify the defendant. Woodard agreed to this option.

Judge Copeland ultimately denied Woodard’s postponement request and ruled that his reasons were not legally sound.

The case was then referred back to Judge Schiffer for jury selection.