Judge Postpones Trial for Pennsylvania Double Murder Defendant

By Breeze Cofield [former] - February 14, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On Feb. 14, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland presided over a hearing for a Coal Township, Pa. man accused of committing two murders on two separate occasions in January 2022. 

Defense attorney Maureen O’Leary requested a postponement in the murder trials for 21-year-old defendant Jaheim Battle in connection to two separate incidents that took place on Jan. 19, 2022, and Jan. 30, 2022. The Jan. 30, 2022, incident resulted in the shooting death of 66-year-old Clarence Joseph Buckner.

In connection to the incident that took place on Jan. 30, 2022, Battle is charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, attempted armed robbery, firearm use in a felony violent crime and possession of a firearm as a minor.

As it pertains to the Jan. 19, 2022, incident, Battle is charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime, attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault and  possession of a firearm as a minor. 

During the hearing, O’Leary said she’d had difficulty downloading the Ring camera footage provided in her client’s discovery packet. She requested additional time to process this information.

The assistant state’s attorney objected to the postponement in connection to the murder of Buckner but stated that both she and the defense were not prepared to proceed to trial in connection to the incident that took place on Jan. 19, 2022.

According to a previous article, the outcome of the trial in the death of Buckner will determine how the prosecution proceeds with the matter that occurred on Jan. 19, 2022.

According to District Court of Maryland court documents, on Jan. 30, 2022, the defendant allegedly shot and killed Buckner on the 3300 block of Ruekert Avenue. On the date in question, the defendant is accused of following the victim from Baltimore’s Horseshoe Casino to his home, where Battle held Buckner and his wife at gunpoint and ordered them to give cash. The victim sustained a gunshot wound to the chest but passed away despite medical intervention. 

Judge Copeland granted the postponement and continued the hearing to reception court and set a date of Feb. 20 to discuss trial dates for both cases.