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By
Ashley Brown [former]
- November 15, 2022
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Suspects
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Victims
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Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn presided over counsels as they established a trial date for a man who allegedly assaulted his pregnant girlfriend, killing their unborn child.
Rodney Harris, 30, is charged with manslaughter as well as first and second-degree assault in connection to the death of his unborn child and the beating of his girlfriend on April 4, 2018, on the 200 block of N. Dallas Court.
During a Nov. 14 reception court hearing, Judge Phinn scheduled a trial date for the defendant after receiving a new defense attorney.
Harris fired his previous attorney a week prior, forcing counsels to arrange a different date.
According to a press release from the Office of the State’s Attorney, Harris allegedly beat his girlfriend, punching and kicking her in the stomach for a period of 12 hours after a dispute ensued between the couple. His girlfriend was 26 weeks pregnant at the time.
When Harris’ girlfriend arrived at Johns Hopkins Hospital, authorities reported she sustained a broken jaw, swollen right eye, lacerations to her lips, and cuts and bruises on her legs from the beating. Harris, on the other hand, had visible cuts on his knuckles.
In terms of the unborn child, the fetus was delivered stillborn and a medical examiner indicated that the death resulted from a “violent assault to the victim and her stomach.”
Parties are scheduled to reconvene on March 13, 2023, in what they anticipate will be a 4 day trial.
Harris’ fate ultimately remains with the jurors.