A trial date was set in the case of Donald Graham on Feb. 27 after the defendant agreed to waive his speedy trial right before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland.
Graham, 55, is accused of fatally stabbing Michael Schuler, 33, on the evening of Sept. 25, 2025. According to police documents, at approximately 4:38 p.m., Southern District patrol officers responded to a report of a stabbing on the 2200 block of Sidney Avenue, where they located Schuler suffering from multiple stab wounds. Schuler was transported to an area hospital, where he later died.
In court, the state extended two plea offers—40 years, suspending all but 20, or 40 years, suspending all but 15 to 25 years. Both offers included supervised probationary terms of five years upon release.
Defense attorney Robert Cohen, who said he had discussed the offer with Graham the day prior, rejected the offer but asked that it remain open.
Cohen also told the court neither he nor his client have had sufficient time to review DNA analysis results that the prosecution recently sent them. The prosecution explained it had just received the analysis the previous day, and has not yet consulted with forensic experts regarding the findings.
The prosecution requested five days for trial, but advised that scheduling conflicts involving co-counsel and witnesses had prevented the parties from agreeing on a date within Graham’s speedy trial deadline of May 18. In response, Graham agreed to waive his speedy trial right.
After the state requested a trial date in late July, Judge Copeland set the matter to proceed before Judge Jeannie J. Hong on July 20.
