Homicide Defendant Offered 2 Life Sentences

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A 27-year-old Baltimore man charged with first-degree murder rejected two life sentences on June 1 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn.

Deamonte Spencer is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of use of a firearm during a violent crime, and illegal possession of a regulated firearm in connection to an incident on Dec. 20, 2020.

On Wednesday, the prosecution presented a plea of two life sentences to run concurrently for two counts of first-degree murder.

Before rejecting the plea, the defendant informed the court that he did not want defense attorney Stephen Tully for his representation. Instead, he explained, he wanted to hire defense attorney Donald Wright but was unable to do so as the money he was going to use to pay Wright was allegedly stolen by his daughter’s mother.

Judge Phinn said that if the defendant does not have the money to pay for Wright’s services, he will have to keep his current attorney and the trial will not be postponed.

Spencer’s trial is scheduled for Oct. 11 and is expected to last four days with Judge Martin Welch presiding.

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