Juvenile Homicide Defendant’s Case Delayed

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A motions hearing on behalf of a juvenile homicide defendant was postponed on Oct. 20 as counsel attempts to locate the teenager’s files pertaining to the case.

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Erik S. Atas presided over Wednesday’s hearing for Donyae Witherspoon, 17, who is charged with first-degree murder, carjacking, and conspiracy to commit a carjacking.

According to the Baltimore Sun, Witherspoon, his 16-year-old co-defendant, Terrance Wilbon, and a third juvenile allegedly carjacked 41-year-old Fabian Mendez on April 2. They then hit Mendez with the vehicle and dragged him several blocks while driving away.

Mendez was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The two co-defendants are being charged as adults, and the third juvenile is being charged with murder in juvenile court.

On Wednesday, defense attorney Robert Linthicum discussed a motion for tangible evidence and a motion for a protective order but did not divulge further details.

The Department of Social Services objected to the protective order.

Counsel also discussed their efforts to locate juvenile files for the hearing, which Judge Atas then agreed to postpone until November.

Witherspoon and Wilbon, who rejected plea offers in September, are scheduled for trial on March 8, 2022.