Judge Sentences Defendant for Second Murder Conviction in Two Decades

By Inacent McKeithan [former] - March 3, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

“I still maintain my innocence,” said a Baltimore man convicted of second-degree murder during his sentencing hearing on March 2 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer. 

On Jan. 9, defendant Harry Cokley was convicted of fatally shooting 33-year-old Morris Hood Jr. on the 200 block of South Monastery Avenue. 

During Tuesday’s hearing, the assistant state’s attorney insisted that the 37-year-old defendant could not “conform to society” and asked the judge to go “beyond the sentencing guidelines.” 

“Mr. Cokley does not come in here with clean hands,” said the assistant state’s attorney.

According to the Maryland Judiciary website, on Aug. 28, 2003, Cokley was convicted of second-degree murder and robbery. 

Cokley was sentenced to 25 years, suspending all but five years, with five years of supervised probation for second-degree murder; and a concurrent sentence of 10 years for robbery. 

Judge Schiffer sentenced defendant Cokley, represented by defense attorney James Sweeting III, to 40 years for second-degree murder; a consecutive sentence of 20 years without the possibility of parole for the first five years for the use of a firearm in a felony violent crime; and a consecutive sentence of 15 years for possession of a firearm with a felony conviction.