Judge Declares Mistrial in Attempted Murder Trial

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Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn declared a mistrial in an attempted murder case on May 31 after the jury failed to reach a verdict.

The 31-year-old defendant, represented by Roland Harris, was facing charges of attempted first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, illegal possession of ammunition, carrying a handgun on his person, discharging a firearm in Baltimore City and firearm use in a felony violent crime in connection to an incident that occurred Aug. 20, 2023, located in an alley on the 4800 block of Beaufort Avenue.

On May 30, the judge granted defense counsel’s motion for judgment of acquittal as to illegal possession of a firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.

Larry Winder III, 31, was suspected of shooting his fiance in the head, leaving her with a small fracture on her left frontal lobe and a small skull fracture. In trial, the prosecution presented a CT scan that illustrated the wounds from being struck three times with a handgun on the side of her head.

The defense argued that there was no record of gunfire and no record of the victim and Winder being together. “There is no physical eyewitness that can say they were together that night,” said Harris.

Harris noted this case was “full of warning signs” in his opening statement.