Judge Refuses to Schedule Homicide Defendant’s Trial Past Hick’s Date

By Andrew Michaels - February 20, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A homicide defendant charged with a 37-year-old man’s murder on North Carey Street last year will return to reception court in two weeks after a Baltimore City Circuit Court judge refused to schedule his trial past his Hick’s date.

On Feb. 17, a prosecutor and defense attorney Augustine Okeke requested a September trial date for Joseph Jones, 37, before Judge Melissa Phinn—five months past the defendant’s right to be tried within 180 days of his or his counsel’s first court appearance. Judge Phinn told counsel that their proposed trial date was “unacceptable” and rescheduled Jones for court on March 1 to give counsel time to discuss other potential trial dates.

There is currently no approved plea offer, according to the prosecutor; however, she anticipates an offer will be approved within the next two weeks.

Jones is accused of fatally shooting Eric White on Aug. 10, 2022, on the 1300 block of North Carey Street. The defendant was arrested nearly two weeks later.