Defense Moves to Suppress Search and Seizure for Previously Convicted Defendant

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Defense attorney James Sweeting moved to suppress the prosecutor’s recovery of a firearm on July 7 in a homicide case.

Harry Cokley, 36, is charged with first-degree murder, use of a firearm during a violent crime, and two counts of possession of a firearm with a felony conviction in connection to an incident on Feb. 28.

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn listened as Sweeting requested a hearing to suppress the search and seizure warrant for possession of a firearm for his client.

According to CBS Baltimore, the Baltimore Police Department announced an arrest in the Feb. 28 murder of 33-year-old Morris Hood Jr. on the 200 block of South Monastery Avenue. The defendant was previously convicted of a murder and a robbery in 2002.

The defendant was originally sentenced to 25 years, suspending all but five years, for first-degree murder and a concurrent 10 years for robbery, according to the Maryland Judiciary website.

Cokley’s next hearing is scheduled for Aug. 22.

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