Judge Postpones Francis Street Murder Defendant’s Retrial

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On Sept. 25, defendant Damien Woods and his stand-in defense attorney, Todd Oppenheim, asked Baltimore CIty Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn to postpone Woods’ retrial.

Woods, 35, is charged with first-degree murder, using a firearm in a felony violent crime and possessing a firearm with a felony conviction in connection to the November 2018 murder of Tracy Whiting.

The reason for the delay was defense attorney, Angela Shelton‘s, having a COVID infection. The prosecutor had no objection to the postponement.

Judge Phinn scheduled Woods’ four-day trial to begin on Jan. 4, 2024, before Baltimore City Circuit Judge Charles H. Dorsey.

On Nov. 14, 2022, the initial prosecution was declared a mistrial due to the jury’s being deadlocked.

According to the District Court of Maryland, Baltimore Police Department (BPD) detectives responded to the 2400 block of Francis Street for a ShotSpotter alert on Nov. 14, 2018. They found 34-year-old Whiting’s body, who died from multiple gunshot wounds. Detectives believed the shooting stemmed from a dispute between Woods and Whiting.

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