Defense Files Not Criminally Responsible Motion for Client

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A homicide defendant’s defense counsel informed the court he filed a motion for not criminally responsible (NCR) for his client before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn on Aug. 30.

Jamal Smith, 43, is charged with first-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon with intent to injure in connection to the death of an unknown adult man on the evening of Jan. 27 on the 1500 block of East 28th Street. 

According to CBS Baltimore, police responded to a call and found an unnamed 29-year-old man suffering from a stab wound. According to police, a trail of blood leading to a neighbor’s shed led them to a hiding Smith.

Smith and his defense attorney Craig Kadish, denied the prosecution’s plea with a modified sentence of 40 years, suspending all but 20 years for the use of a deadly weapon with intent to injure.

Kadish informed the court that his client is being evaluated by mental health court. He filed an NCR motion for Smith 3-4 weeks ago, and the evaluation results are still pending. 

Smith’s trial is scheduled for Jan. 31 and is expected to last five days long.