Judge Postpones Homicide Defendant’s Trial to 2025

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On Oct. 29, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland postponed a 28-year-old homicide defendant’s trial to March 3, 2025. 

 Dayrel McFarland is charged with first-degree murder and possession of a deadly weapon with intent to injure in connection to a shooting incident on Oct. 2, 2023.  According to a Baltimore Police Department (BPD) press release, on Feb. 8, detectives arrested McFarland in connection to an incident on the 500 block of North Payson Street that killed 37-year-old Jamal Barney. 

The trial was postponed because the prosecutor had a medical condition that prevented her from attending. It was originally scheduled for November. 

The prosecutor and defense attorney, Jason Rodriguez, expect the trial would last four days.