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By
Sage Cho
- February 25, 2025
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Victims
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Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland scheduled a July 8 jury trial for homicide defendant Mark Custis after previously rejecting defense attorney Roland Harris’ request for a trial on July 14, the same day as Custis’ Hicks date.
The Maryland Hicks rule requires that criminal trials must begin within 180 days of defendants’ initial appearance in circuit court, and July 14 would mark the 180th day since Custis’ initial appearance.
Custis, 60, is charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter in connection to the May 1, 2023 blunt force trauma-induced murder of 57-year-old Delroy Scott outside the 1400 block of E. Preston Street. Scott was pronounced deceased Oct. 3, 2024, a little over 15 months since his assault.
“The victim was in several different medical facilities for his injuries,” the prosecution told Judge Copeland on Feb. 25. “Mr. Scott was in a vegetative state prior to his passing.”
The prosecution requested a July trial after learning the medical examiner who performed Scott’s autopsy would take administrative leave from May through the majority of June due to a family medical emergency. Though the examiner allegedly completed the autopsy, the chief medical examiner’s office was unable to finalize the results or disclose them to the prosecution.
Harris objected to the date, emphasizing that Custis was originally scheduled for trial in October last year.
“Mr. Custis has been held in this matter … for well over a year,” Harris said. “I think we’re working our way to two years.”
Judge Copeland will preside over Custis’ trial.