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Andrew Michaels
- August 22, 2022
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A 37-year-old Baltimore man rejected a plea of life without parole on Aug. 22, setting in motion his trial in January 2023.
Harry Cokley is charged with first-degree murder and three weapons charges in connection to the killing of 33-year-old Morris Hood Jr. on the 200 block of South Monastery Avenue in February. The defendant was previously convicted of murder and robbery in 2002, serving 13 years after being sentenced to 25 years, suspending all but five years, for second-degree murder and a concurrent 10 years for robbery.
On Monday, the prosecution offered Cokley life without parole for first-degree murder and firearm use in a felony violent crime. Cokley was also offered a consecutive 15 years, the first five years without parole, for firearm possession with a felony conviction in another incident that occurred about two weeks after the homicide.
Defense attorney James Sweeting III rejected the life plea on his client’s behalf and said that although he hadn’t shared the second offer with Cokley, the defendant was unlikely to take the offer.
Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn scheduled Cokley’s trial for Jan. 4, 2023, before Judge Jennifer Schiffer.
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