Judge Schedules Trial for One of Three Defendant in 2021 Derby Manor Drive Homicide Case

By Baltimore Witness Staff - March 3, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A man charged with the murder of 24-year-old Tyrell Johnson-Woods received a trial date during reception court before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn on March 3. 

During the hearing, defendant Devon Pailin, who was represented by defense attorney James Sweeting III, rejected a plea presented to him by the prosecution. 

Pailin, 26, was offered a plea of life, suspending all but 50 years with five years of supervised probation for first-degree murder and use of a firearm in a felony violent crime in connection to the fatal shooting of Johnson-Woods on June 18, 2021. The defendant would have also been required to register as a gun offender. 

Initially, Sweeting advised the defendant not to waive his Hick’s right, which is his right to be tried within 180 days of his or his attorney’s first court appearance. 

Judge Phinn responded by saying, “what he is telling you makes no sense,” as she could still find probable cause to go beyond the date of May 27. The inability of all parties to agree on a date did not automatically mean a dismissal in his case, she informed him.

Due to Sweeting being unavailable, Judge Phinn found probable cause to set the defendant’s trial to start on Sep. 5-11, excluding Sep. 8, due to the prosecution’s pre-approved leave on that day. 

At this time, no judge has not been assigned to the case.

According to the Baltimore Police Department (BPD), officers believe Pailin, along with defendants Lundyne Oldes, Brandi Burrows, fatally shot Johnson-Woods during a botched robbery on the 3800 block of Derby Manor Drive.

Burrows pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in September 2022 and is expected to be sentenced on May 10.

Oldes is scheduled to start trial on May 22 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Christopher L. Panos. The trial is expected to last five days.

Pailin and Oldes currently face charges of first-degree murder, armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, use of a firearm in a felony violent crime, and possessing a firearm with a felony conviction.