Homicide Defendant Charged With Murder Rejects Plea

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A 41-year-old Baltimore man accused of murder rejected a plea of 25 years with five years on probation on April 26 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn

Barnett Harper is charged with first-degree murder in connection to an incident on March 21, 2020. 

Judge Phinn listened as the prosecutor presented a plea of 40 years suspending all but 25 years with five years on probation for first-degree murder. 

Harper was represented by defense attorney Sharon May.

According to a news release, police were called to a home on the 500 block of Radnor Avenue around 1:40 a.m. on March 21 when they found 54-year-old John Werrell with multiple stab wounds. Medics arrived and took Werrell to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he died.

Harper’s trial is scheduled for Dec. 7.