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By
Laura Van Pate
- May 29, 2024
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A 45-year-old Baltimore resident’s stepdaughter testified in court that her stepfather and boyfriend were fighting during her stepfather’s murder trial on May 28 in Baltimore City Circuit Court.
Keith Anderson is accused of murdering 29-year-old Markeece Jordan in June 2022 at a BP gas station on the 1900 block of Bel Air Road. Anderson requested a bench trial, with his trial being heard in front of Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer.
Anderson is charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime and firearm possession with a felony conviction.
Anderson and Jordan allegedly were not close nor shared contacts with each other. Five hours after Jordan’s murder, Anderson sent messages to the witness saying, “I guess you’re really mad about your friend huh,” “HE DON’T GIVE A F***,” and “LIVED LONGER THAN HIM,” according to a police report.
The witness was at the BP gas station the day Jordan was murdered, with her saying that she was in a car, before hearing fireworks. The witness then ran out of the car and saw Jordan lying on the ground, but didn’t call 911 because she didn’t have a phone with her.
Back in 2022, when questioned by a Baltimore Police Department detective, the witness allegedly told police that Anderson was her brother’s father, and not her stepfather, though when asked by the prosecution, the witness stated that she didn’t remember saying that.
The witness also said that Anderson didn’t live with her and her family despite being her stepfather and that she didn’t see Anderson very often.
The prosecution did not give an opening statement, but the witness’s lack of relationship with Anderson is a focal point for them in this case, with the prosecution believing Anderson would kill his daughter’s boyfriend because they weren’t close.
The defense, while not denying that the witness and Anderson don’t have a close relationship, believes that it shouldn’t be a main point in deciding whether or not Anderson should be declared guilty.
“The prosecution here is not correct,” Michael Cooper, Anderson’s defense attorney said.
“Anderson’s relationship with the witness doesn’t prove anything in the case. There were no eyewitnesses of Jordan’s murder, and the only evidence the prosecution has is grainy camera footage. That’s not enough to prove that Anderson is guilty beyond reasonable doubt.”
Anderson has been convicted before, with illegal possession of ammunition and a handgun charge in 2017 and distribution of narcotics in 2018.