Judge Schedules Trial for Defendant Accused of Murdering Pregnant Woman and Toddler after Third Postponement

By Ting Hong [former] , Ashleigh Joplin [former] - April 18, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Juveniles | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On April 17, a triple homicide defendant received a new trial date before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn after having his jury trial postponed three times. 

Defendant Devon Sample claimed multiple postponements were due to the prosecution blocking the defense from viewing evidence on Monday. 

Sample, 27, initially had his trial scheduled for March 2022, but it was postponed due to defense attorney Roland Brown’s absence, according to the prosecutor. 

The trial was reset to December 2022, but the defense counsel had evidence that was not viewed. 

Sample’s trial was once again delayed to April due to the prosecution of the case having health complications. 

Judge Phinn acknowledged how “anxious” Sample was to begin trial but also understood that people get sick and forget to view evidence. 

Sample’s trial was rescheduled to begin on July 24 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Lawrence Daniels. It is expected to last five days. 

According to charging documents, on June 18, 2020, patrol officers responded to the 200 block of Boswell Avenue. Shiand Miller, who was eight months pregnant, and her three-year-old daughter Shaniya Gilmore were found inside a car suffering from gunshot wounds. They were pronounced deceased on the scene. 

Sample is charged with three counts each of first-degree murder and firearm use in a felony violent crime. He is also charged with one count each of committing a crime of violence against a pregnant person, having a handgun in his vehicle, and having a handgun on his person in connection to the murder of Miller and her two children.