Judge Reschedules Defendant’s Sturbridge Drive Murder Trial for Third Time This Year

By Shayna Sefret [former] - June 13, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On June 12, a defendant rejected a plea for the second time before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn as his trial was postponed for the third time.

During Monday’s hearing, Donzo Monk Jr., 27, rejected a plea of life in prison and 20 years with five years of probation for the charges of first-degree murder, use of a firearm during a felony violent crime, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, having a handgun in a vehicle, having a handgun on his person and possession of a firearm with a felony conviction in connection to a fatal shooting that occurred on March 10, 2022.

A Baltimore Police Department police report stated that on March 10, 2022, officers responded to the 6800 block of Sturbridge Drive, where they found 26-year-old Bryant Timmons suffering from a fatal gunshot. He died three days later in the hospital.

Although Monk’s trial was initially set for March 14 and then postponed until June 7, it was once again rescheduled to Oct. 31 by Judge Phinn. It was also expanded from a two-day to four-day trial.

Judge Phinn said she would need time to find a judge to cover the trial.