A Baltimore City Circuit Court judge ruled on July 29 that evidence from two January incidents occurring on consecutive days will be admissible in the first-degree murder case against Michael Akiel Manigo.
Judge Robert K. Taylor Jr. found that evidence from the Jan. 3 and Jan. 4, 2026, incidents may be introduced to establish the defendant’s identity, particularly if the victim’s statements are presented at trial.
Manigo, 31, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Phillip Jones, 43, who investigators say was intentionally struck by a vehicle in the 2200 block of McCulloh Street on Jan. 4. Jones was taken to a hospital in critical condition and died three days later. Police later ruled the incident a homicide.
During the hearing, the court reviewed surveillance footage from Jan. 3, when Jones reported to police that he had been followed, asked for money and struck from behind. Prosecutors said the footage showed Jones and Manigo speaking before Manigo, with his hand positioned in the front waistband of his pants, appeared to push Jones until Jones handed over money.
The court also reviewed surveillance footage from the Jan. 4 incident, body-worn camera footage from Manigo’s arrest and photographs that prosecutors argued linked Manigo to both incidents, including clothing they said appeared consistent in the two encounters.
Prosecutors argued the Jan. 3 and Jan. 4 incidents were connected and demonstrated a continuing course of conduct toward Jones, while defense attorney Mary Lloyd Patton argued the cases should remain separate, citing differences between the incidents and contending that combining them would unfairly prejudice the jury by introducing autopsy evidence and photographs from Jones’ death.
The parties may also appear before Judge Copeland at a reception court hearing to discuss future trial dates.
