Hearing Continued After Dartmouth Road Fatal Stabbing Defendant Rejects Plea

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Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn continued a hearing for a fatal stabbing defendant after he rejected the prosecutor’s 50-year plea offer.

Elijah Nicholas, was represented by Maureen O’Leary, is charged with first-degree murder and possessing a deadly weapon with intent to injure in connection to an incident in April.

During the hearing on Aug. 30, a medical examiner was not available until December, which prevented counsel from being able to agree on a trial date.

Judge Phinn continued the hearing to Oct. 2, with the trial date anticipated sometime in January 2024.

In addition to continuing the hearing, the prosecutor assigned to this case offered Nicholas, 22, a plea with a sentence of life, suspending all but 50 years, with five years of probation for first-degree murder.

According to documents from the District Court of Maryland, on April 10, Baltimore City Police detectives responded to a call on the 1000 block of Dartmouth Road and found 44-year-old Damiane Edwards injured from multiple stab wounds. Nicholas allegedly had a dispute with Edwards about a rent payment, stabbed him and fled the scene.

Nicholas later returned to the scene while police officers were present and admitted that he stabbed Edwards, according to court documents.

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