Man Accepts Guilty Plea for Fatally Stabbing His Partner

By Andrew Michaels - November 8, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

A 31-year-old Baltimore man will serve seven years in prison in connection to the death of his partner in December 2020.

Billy Johnson was originally charged with second-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon with the intent to injure after admitting that he fatally stabbed Brandon Fleming on the 2500 block of Woodland Avenue on Dec. 22, 2020.

Less than a year later, Johnson accepted a guilty plea on Nov. 8 of voluntary manslaughter for 10 years, suspending all but seven years, and use of a deadly weapon with the intent to injure for three years, which were suspended, and will be served consecutively.

Johnson, whose case was listed as inactive in September, accepted the plea on Monday morning before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn.

During the court proceedings, the prosecution said the defendant called the Baltimore Police Department around 8:50 p.m. and told them that Fleming was unresponsive on their living room floor. Medics responded about 40 minutes later and pronounced the victim dead.

During the investigation, officers and medics found a puncture wound on Fleming’s upper back, which was covered by a sweatshirt.

Johnson first told police and Fleming’s family that the victim injured himself after falling on ice, the prosecution said, but later admitted to stabbing the victim during an argument.

Johnson revealed that he and Fleming were arguing over a phone in the early morning on Dec. 22 when the defendant went into a room and closed the door. Fleming then hunched over and charged into the room when Johnson swung a pocket knife, stabbing the victim. Johnson allegedly covered Fleming’s stab wound with a sweatshirt and laid down with him on the living room floor.

Both Johnson and Fleming did not get medical attention, and the latter called out of work and told family members he wasn’t feeling well.

On Monday, the prosecutor told Johnson that he was accepting a plea of voluntary manslaughter, which is an intentional killing, and recognized the defendant’s allegation that he was acting in self-defense. 

Defense attorney Matthew Connell and the prosecutor agreed to postpone Johnson’s sentencing, as Connell was in trial and Fleming’s family members wish to give a victim impact statement. Johnson is scheduled to return to reception court at on Nov. 23.