Defense Pokes Holes in Homicide Investigation During Trial

By Waverly Reginato [former] - September 13, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

In the ongoing trial of a 54-year-old Baltimore man charged with homicide in 2019, the defense challenged the thoroughness of the Baltimore City Police Department’s investigation.

Defendant Ronald Brown is charged with first-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon with intent to injure.

The lead detective on the case testified as an expert witness before Baltimore City Circuit Judge Lynn Stewart Mays on Sept. 9. The detective recalled that officers were called to the 500 block of N. Payson Street for a report of an injured person on Dec. 8, 2019. When officers arrived, they found the victim laying inside his bedroom with multiple stab wounds on his body. 

The victim, William Scott, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The detective reviewed photo evidence from the crime scene and confirmed that nail clippings came from both hands of the victim, which were provided by the prosecutor. The prosecution also called an information technology specialist, representing AT&T, who verified phone records from a no-name number that called the victim hours before the 51 year old’s death. 

During cross-examination, defense attorney Brandon T. Taylor said that there could have been footprint contamination of the crime scene by officers that arrived nearly two hours before detectives, with no documentation of officers wearing personal protective equipment on the scene.

Taylor also noted that police had not reviewed street security camera footage near the area of the incident. 

The trial will continue on Sept. 13 in the Cummings Courthouse.