Judge Reschedules Collateral Hearing to Determine New Counsel Due to Murder Defendant’s Lack of Compliance

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On April 24, a homicide defendant requested a new counsel before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Lazette Ringgold-Kirksey

On Friday, defendant Lorenzo Thomas became upset and left the collateral hearing that took place over Zoom and refused to return. 

Judge Ringgold-Kirksey rescheduled the hearing for May 30 to determine whether Thomas, 47, wants defense attorney Paul Batchelor to represent him during sentencing. 

According to WMAR Baltimore, a jury found Smith guilty of murdering 39-year-old Tyree Lee on March 27, 2019. Officers responded to the 3900 block of Penhurst Avenue for a shooting report. Lee was found suffering multiple gunshot wounds to the head and was pronounced deceased on the scene.