Defense Argues Homicide Defendant Wasn’t Behind Convenience Store Murder

By Alyssia Davis [former] - December 3, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

Defense counsel in the homicide trial of 31-year-old Deonte Walker argued that the defendant was not behind the alleged murder in January 2020, nor did he suggest it to be someone else. 

Walker is charged with first-degree murder, use of a firearm in a violent crime, having a handgun in his vehicle, having a handgun on his person, and possession of a firearm with felony conviction in connection to an incident on Jan. 14, 2020. 

During his opening statement, the prosecutor argued that the defendant chose to kill the victim, Justin Johnson, noting that Walker panicked, which resulted in Johnson’s death. However, he said, Walker’s panicking caused him to make mistakes. 

Johnson was pronounced dead on his arrival to the hospital.  

The prosecutor explained that there was video footage of the defendant and his girlfriend leaving a convenience store after reports of a shooting in the area. After allegedly killing Johnson, Walker then walked to his father’s home where he lives with his girlfriend. 

When Baltimore Police Department officers arrived at the store, they noted that there was no one there, nor were there any bullet casings or blood on the floor. The prosecutor added that once home, the defendant showered, washed his clothes, and dumped the bloody clothes into a dumpster.

Throughout the trial Thursday, there was testimony from a medical examiner, crime lab technician, detectives, and other witnesses. 

During defense counsel’s opening statement, defense attorney Catherine Flynn discussed the typical proceedings that go on in a normal trial. She noted that because of the pandemic, things operated a little differently, specifically that all the jurors would be sitting together rather than socially distanced. 

Flynn noted that during the trial, there would be witnesses testifying both on the stand physically as well as through Zoom. The jury will be the judges of the defendant’s case, she said, which will determine whether or not Walker is found guilty or innocent.  

Defense ended her statement by noting that Walker is entitled to a fair trial and that the jurors should all come to the conclusion that he is not guilty. 

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Robert Taylor presided over the trial on Dec. 2, along with 12 jurors who were selected the day before. 

The trial is set to continued on Dec. 3.