Judge Continues Homicide Defendant’s Hearing to Allow Prosecution to Consult Victim’s Family

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Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn continued a hearing on Sept. 5 for a murder defendant at the request of the prosecuting attorney.

Benjamin Rowland, Jr. is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two accounts of attempted first-degree murder, three counts of firearm use in a felony violent crime, two counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, failure to disclose a conviction or the existence of pending charges, having a handgun in a vehicle and possessing a firearm as a minor.

The prosecutor asked for a continuance in order to have additional time to talk to the family of the victim before offering the defendant a plea deal.

The charges against Rowland, 19, are connected to an incident on Jan. 13, near the intersection of S. Caton Avenue and Lohrs Street. According to documents from the District Court of Maryland, the Baltimore Police Department Homicide Unit responded to a call that two victims were shot in a car while driving. One of the victims, 18-year-old Joseph Kawa, died from his wounds. Video evidence showed four suspects firing at the vehicle and fleeing the scene.

This video footage was used to link the car the suspects drove to Rowland’s car.

Rowland, 19, was represented by defense attorney Robert D. Cole, Jr.

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