Jury Returns Guilty Verdict for Homicide Defendant Charged with First-Degree Murder

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A jury came to a verdict on May 2 finding 33-year-old Sean Braxton-Carter guilty of first-degree murder. He faces a maximum penalty of life plus 41 years in prison.

The jury also found Braxton-Carter guilty of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, having a handgun on his person, having a handgun in a vehicle, possession of a firearm with a felony conviction, and use of a firearm during a violent crime.

According to a press release from the State’s Attorney’s Office, Braxton-Carter shot the victim in retaliation for two prior shootings in 2014 and 2016.

The defendant was originally charged with his co-defendant, Tashonda Childs.

In July, Childs was offered a plea of life, suspending all but 50 years, for first-degree murder, and Braxton-Carter was offered life, suspending all but 60 years, for first-degree murder. Both defendants rejected their offers.

However, on March 8, Childs pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. The plea term is currently under the consideration of the court. The defendant’s cases were separated in October.

During closing arguments, Braxton-Carter’s defense attorney, Hunter Pruette, claimed that witnesses did not provide any evidence that his client was guilty. Pruett also argued that the prosecutor’s case was built on lies and that the prosecutor failed in their job to show the strongest evidence to convince the jury that his client committed murder.

However, in addressing defense counsel’s closing statements, the prosecutor said that her job is to present strong evidence and build a case that doesn’t waste anyone’s time.

The prosecutor also spoke about the police being unable to obtain all phone records due to rights to privacy and the fact that despite the audio being muted on the body-camera footage, the evidence presented on the footage was clear.

The prosecutor claimed that one eye-witness changed her statement and told the truth two months after the incident occurred because she was scared of the defendant.

“He said he would kill her and her family if she didn’t lie,” said the prosecutor.

before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge John S. Nugent presided over the trial.

Braxton-Carter is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 1.