Defense Counsel Argues Violation of Double-Blind Photo Array in Murder Trial

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During the ongoing trial of a Baltimore man accused of fatally shooting a former University of Maryland football player, defense counsel argued that the Baltimore Police Department violated the double-blind photo array when witnesses were shown photos of the same suspects multiple times after being unable to identify any of them as the shooter.

Kalim Emoni Satterfield, 23, is charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime, illegal possession of a firearm, and having a handgun on his person in connection to the fatal shooting of David Mackall Jr. on May 29, 2019, along the 1900 block of Braddish Avenue.

On March 22, a Baltimore detective testified that he responded to the scene where he found Mackall as well as shell casings, blood, and a baseball hat. Mackall was taken to Shock Trauma, where he was pronounced dead.

According to the prosecutor, multiple photo arrays were conducted throughout the investigation process. However, one eyewitness never identified a suspect until she said she saw pictures of the possible shooter on Instagram.

Another eyewitness made an identification after seeing the shooter’s movement.

Defense attorney Donald Wright argued that police violated the photo array after showing the same suspects to eyewitnesses, but they were unable to identify the shooter. Wright also said that police were unable to connect the white Honda captured in video surveillance to the defendant.

An FBI agent’s testimony informed the court that a cell phone allegedly belonging to Satterfield placed him in the area of the homicide, yet, Wright argued that there was no evidence that the defendant was the owner of the cellphone.

Testimony concluded with a firearm examiner who identified that the shell casings and cartridge from the crime scene came from the same 9mm firearm, the same firearm that was later recovered.

Satterfield’s trial is set to end on March 23, with closing arguments.