Judge Sentences Baltimore Man to 40 Years for Murder

By Braden Hamelin [former] - June 30, 2022
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A Baltimore man convicted of second-degree murder was sentenced to 40 years in prison on June 30 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Martin P Welch. 

Ricky Robinson, 31, was found guilty of second-degree murder and use of a firearm during a crime of violence on April 20, for the murder of 25-year-old Terrell Billie on Feb. 2, 2021, on the 5200 block of Park Heights Avenue. 

During court proceedings, video footage showed Robinson pulling Billie out of a car and shooting him 10 times, including multiple times at point blank range in the head after Billie had fallen to the ground. 

The prosecutor stressed the brutal nature of the crime to the court multiple times, asking for the maximum sentence, which is up to 60 years total for both charges combined.  

Billie’s parents and great aunt spoke passionately about how much the family loved Billie and the massive hole his death left in their family.

“Love was not just a word to Terrell, it was an integral part of who he was,” Billie’s mother said.  

Defense attorney Gil Amaral argued against the sentence, referencing his client’s troubled family life after his parent’s divorce when he was young and that Robinson was severely depressed, even attempted to take his own life in 2020. 

Amaral asked for concurrent sentences that wouldn’t exceed the guideline maximum for second-degree murder, which would give Robinson no more than 25 years total. 

The defense is citing an “inconsistent verdict” based on the evidence presented. Amaral said Robinson’s prints were not found at the scene and the gunman in the video was masked.

Amaral also said he felt the video should not have been admitted into evidence because the defense did not authenticate it. Even though the defense did not authenticate the video, an eyewitness did.  

Judge Welch disagreed with the defense’s assessment, citing the video of the crime and the fact that a toddler was in the car with Billie at the time of the shooting.

Judge Welch sentenced Robinson to 25 years for second-degree murder and a consecutive sentence of 15 years for the use of a firearm during a violent crime. Robinson will be eligible for parole after five years into the consecutive firearm sentence.

Amaral informed the judge that he plans on filing a motion for a retrial.