Judge Postpones Start of Trial for Greta Court Murder Defendant

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On March 14, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn rescheduled a trial for a defendant accused of committing a homicide in 2022.

During the reception court hearing, the stand-in attorney for the prosecution requested a postponement due to the lead attorney falling ill the previous day.

Judge Phinn granted the request.

Joel Ugah, 37, who is represented by Lawrence Rosenberg, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of using a firearm in a felony violent crime, first and second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, having a handgun in a vehicle, and having a handgun on his person in connection to his involvement to the incident that occurred on April 15, 2022.

According to a news release, on April 15 at approximately 6:19 a.m, officers responded to a call on the 800 block Gretna Court where they located 30-year-old Brittany Keyser with a fatal gunshot wound. They also located a 31-year-old male victim with a non-fatal gunshot wound.

On Sep. 16, Ugah and his former attorney, Isaac Klein, rejected a plea of life for first-degree murder and an additional life sentence for attempted first-degree murder along with 20 years for the use of a firearm during a felony violent crime. All sentences would have run concurrently.

Judge Phinn set Ugah’s trial to begin on July 18, with Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jeannie J. Hong presiding. The trial is expected to last four days.