Thank you for reading Baltimore Witness.
Consider making a donation to help us continue our mission.
By
Caroline Sutley
- February 10, 2025
Court
|
Daily Stories
|
Shooting
|
The case against 33-year-old homicide defendant Darrell Sewell was dismissed on Feb. 10 after the prosecution failed to locate Sewell’s mother, a crucial witness. Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Nicole K. Barmore ruled that the state was unable to proceed, citing ample time had passed to find her.
As a result, the state entered a nolle prosequi, effectively dismissing Sewell’s charges of first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony or violent crime, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and having a handgun in a vehicle.
The prosecution emphasized the difficulty in locating Sewell’s mother, asserting that Baltimore City detectives and the Anne Arundel County Police Department (AACPD) had worked in tandem to track her down. They suspected that Sewell’s family may be hiding her.
Despite their efforts, including the issuance of a missing person alert by AACPD, they were unable to find her.
Defense attorney Roya Hanna claimed the family is not involved in concealing her whereabouts. Hanna suggested that her failure to appear could be the influence of drugs.
Emotions ran high in the courtroom, as supporters of both the victim and defendant were present. In a surprising turn, a family member of Sewell discreetly approached Hanna, stating that the witness was not missing and that they had recently seen her and offered to provide information about her location. Hanna acknowledged the comment but continued her argument.
Judge Barmore noted that because the state had a sufficient opportunity to locate Sewell’s mother, that postponement would be denied. For now, the case stands dismissed, leaving the prosecution to evaluate whether to refile the charges.