A sentencing hearing for 41-year-old Eddie Murphy, who was found guilty of multiple charges in a takeout restaurant shooting that occurred last New Year’s, was postponed June 11 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge LaZette Ringgold-Kirksey.
Murphy was convicted in April of attempted second-degree murder, armed robbery, firearm use in a felony violent crime, reckless endangerment and related conspiracy and gun offenses stemming from the shooting. According to police, Murphy and 45-year-old co-defendant Christopher Brigerman robbed American Wings & Pizza in Baltimore’s Old Goucher neighborhood and left the storeowner with several gunshot wounds.
At the start of the proceeding on Thursday, the prosecutor informed the court that she had just recently been assigned the case and had not yet fully reviewed the case file. During discussions with the judge, the prosecutor was unable to answer several questions regarding the victim and other details of the case. She briefly reviewed the available information before the hearing continued.
Defense attorney Jason Rodriguez requested a postponement on behalf of Murphy. Rodriguez told the court that his client wished to seek private legal counsel and had pending petitions and motions that he wanted resolved before sentencing.
During the discussion, Judge Ringgold-Kirksey stated that Murphy could retain new counsel if he wished. However, she noted that his current attorney would remain his legal representation throughout the sentencing process.
The judge granted the postponement request and rescheduled the sentencing hearing for July 14. Although no specific reason for the continuance was stated, the request came after defense counsel raised the outstanding legal matters and the prosecutor acknowledged she had only recently received the case and was still becoming familiar with its details.
