Expert Witnesses Testify in Case of 19-Year-Old Murder Defendant

By Alexander Taylor - July 11, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Expert witnesses testified in the case of a 19-year-old murder defendant in Baltimore City Circuit Court on July 10.

Parris Harris is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, firearm use in a felony violent crime, possession of a firearm as a minor and having a handgun on his person for allegedly killing 27-year-old Desmond Gardner on Jan. 26, 2023, on the 3400 block of Spelman Road.

A Baltimore Police Department (BPD) forensic scientist, who is a part of the firearms analysis unit, testified that some of the bullets and casings found at the crime scene were fired by the gun found by BPD detectives.

The analyst also said that not every bullet and casing could be fired by the same gun, estimating that at least four firearms were used to fire those casings.

A FBI special agent, who had downloaded information from the defendant’s phone during the investigation, explained the download process of the phone’s data.

During his cross-examination, Harris’ defense attorney, Roland Harris, asked the agent whether the phone had been handled by other agents. The agent said that the phone was handled by at least one other agent.

Another special agent for the FBI testified about the travel trajectory of the defendant’s cell phone. The agent said the phone travelled back and forth between Baltimore and Washington, DC until around 8 p.m.

The trial is set to continue before Judge Timothy J. Doory on July 11.