Judge Postpones Hearing for Attempted Murder Defendant Who Rejected Plea Offer

By Ashley Brown [former] - December 2, 2022
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

During a Dec. 1 reception court proceeding, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn postponed a trial for a defendant accused of attempted murder who rejected a plea offer posed by the prosecution.

Jamar Beckford is charged with attempted first and second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, firearm use during a violent crime, illegal possession of a registered firearm, carrying or wearing a handgun on his person, illegal possession of ammunition, reckless endangerment, and discharging firearms in connection to an incident on Feb. 27.

At Thursday’s hearing, the prosecution proposed a plea deal entailing 40 years suspended as all but ten years for all counts as well as parole for all counts, to which the 29-year-old defendant shouted, “No!”

Regarding a trial date, Beckford’s defense attorney, Hunter Pruette, expressed his desire to schedule such proceedings within his client’s Hick’s date, meaning within 180 days of his first court appearance.

The prosecution was unable to accommodate this request due to her full caseload. As such, Judge Phinn issued a motion to postpone the trial beyond his Hick’s date.

Parties are expected to reconvene on Feb. 8 under Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Dana Middleton for trial in what parties estimate to be a three-day matter.