On Feb. 8, homicide defendant, Dandre Woods-Bethel, received a July trial date from Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland.
Woods-Bethel, 28, is currently facing charges of two counts of first-degree murder, five counts of firearm use in a felony violent crime, three counts of attempted first-degree murder and having a handgun on his person in connection to the deaths of two women in September 2020. He was also deemed competent to stand trial on Jan. 18.
The original plea offer made by the prosecution was two consecutive life sentences for the two first-degree murder charges. Woods-Bethel and his attorney Maureen O’Leary rejected the offer again during Thursday’s hearing.
There was difficulty deciding on a trial date. Both the defense and prosecution wanted a July trial date but Judge Copeland was apprehensive due to this case being four years old and the July calendar not being open yet. However due to witnesses’ and medical expert’s availability, Copeland allowed the trial to be scheduled from July 1 to July 11 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn.
According to documents from the District Court of Maryland, on Sept. 12, 2020, Baltimore Police Department officers were dispatched to the 2800 block of Clifton Park Terrace in response to reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers discovered Julie Rice, 46, and Michelle Green, 23, suffering from gunshot wounds. Both victims later succumbed to their injuries at a local hospital. The investigation revealed that Woods-Bethel shot the two women outside his residence before returning indoors to report the incident to 911.
