Man Accused of 15-Year-Old Girl’s Murder Has Trial Pushed to Early 2024

By Andrew Michaels - October 30, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Homicide defendant Zachariah Allison’s jury trial for the murder of 15-year-old Ja’Nyi Weeden is expected to move forward in late January 2024 following the second postponement in less than two months.

The 18-year-old Baltimore resident was scheduled to go to trial on Oct. 30 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Althea M. Handy. However, defense attorney, Andre Mahasa, informed the court via Zoom that he recently tested positive for Covid-19 and requested a postponement.

The case was sent to Judge Dana M. Middleton in reception court where counsel agreed on a new trial date of Jan. 29, 2024. A presiding judge will be assigned at a later date, Judge Middleton said.

This is the second time Allison’s case has been postponed. The first postponement came from the prosecution on Sept. 20 when she told Judge Melissa M. Phinn that their office was still waiting to obtain police evidence.

Allison is currently charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony or violent crime, being a minor in possession of a firearm, reckless endangerment, third-degree burglary and second-degree assault in connection to a dispute turned violent on Aug. 10, 2021. Allison allegedly became involved in an altercation with friends and fired a handgun at multiple victims on the 3600 block of Eversley Street.

Weeden was shot in the back of her neck and died later that day.