New Counsel Asks to Postpone Mental Health Court Hearing

By Amna Syed [former] - December 6, 2023
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On Nov. 29, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Gale E. Rasin postponed a mental health hearing for 40-year-old Kenneth Oakley. 

Oakley is charged with attempted first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, firearm use in a felony violent crime, reckless endangerment, firearm possession with a felony conviction, possession of a firearm in a controlled dangerous substance offense, having a handgun on his person, having a loaded handgun on his person, illegal possession of ammunition and discharging firearms in connection to an incident on Sept. 24, 2022.

Judge Rasin told Oakley’s new attorney, Michael Lawlor, that his client felt “disturbed” and his “life was being threatened.”

Lawlor responded he had just been assigned as Oakley’s representative and had not yet received information from prior counsel, Matthew Connell. Lawlor asked the judge to postpone the hearing for one week. 

Judge Rasin agreed.

Connell originally suggested that the defendant was incompetent to stand trial, according to Judge Rasin. 

The case has been postponed until Dec. 6. 

According to documents from the District Court of Maryland, on Sept. 24, 2022, Baltimore Police Department officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert at the 1300 block of North Ellwood Avenue. Upon arrival, the victim came to the officer and claimed that he had been shot by the defendant. Video footage caught the incident on camera, allegedly identifying Oakley as the person who shot the victim.