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By
Tomas Coles
- February 7, 2025
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Suspects
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Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Nicole K. Barmore stopped the proceedings in homicide defendant Darrell Sewell’s jury trial on Feb. 7 after the defendant’s mother disappeared the previous night while under subpoena to appear as a witness.
Sewell faces charges of first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony or violent crime, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and having a handgun in a vehicle. Sewell previously rejected a plea offer of life, suspending all but 50 years, with five years supervised probation after his release.
The prosecution started the trial by informing Judge Barmore that Sewell’s mother, who is the state’s primary identifying witness, went missing. Officers who made a forced entry into her residence were unable to find her.
The prosecution moved to postpone the trial until Monday, Feb. 10 while investigators attempt to locate Sewell’s mother. Defense attorney Roya Hanna claimed the witness was under the influence of drugs when she went missing and claimed she was deliberately avoiding her appearance.
Hanna spoke to the defendant’s brother, who claimed someone broke into his mother’s home before the trial. State police told the court they were unable to find evidence of a break-in.
Judge Barmore approved the prosecutor’s motion and rescheduled the trial for Feb. 10 at 9 a.m. Authorities continue to investigate the disappearance.