On July 29, parties presented opening statements before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Paul Cucuzzella in the Darley Avenue murder of 23-year-old Martell Wall.
The defendant Bryant Whittaker, 29, is charged with first and second degree murder, firearm use and illegal firearm possession. Whittaker experienced a number of mental health issues resulting in d his removal from the court several times during the proceedings.
Charging documents indicate that on July 21, 2018 at approximately 7:20pm an officer responded to a report of a shooting at Aiken and Darley Avenue. He located an unknown man later identified asWall suffering from multiple gunshot wounds sitting in the driver seat of a Ford F-150.
Eight 9mm casings and one 45 casing were recovered from the scene. Video surveillance camera footage shows an unknown individual wearing a dark-colored baggy jacket with the hood up, dark colored pants and light colored shoes talking with the victim, then the individual withdraws a firearm and shoots the victim.
The victim retreats to the driver’s side of the Ford F-150 while the suspect returns to the corner of Darley Avenue and Aiken Street. The suspect returns and advances towards the victim who is attempting to flee by getting into the driver’s seat of the F-150. The suspect shoots the victim once again and then flees on foot west of Darley Avenue.
During opening statements, the prosecution highlighted the severity of the crime, stressing that the victim was shot 16 times during two encounters. She goes on to state that witness testimony will show how the police connected the suspect to the defendant asking the jury to find him guilty after all evidence is provided explaining that\shooting someone 16 times shows intent and bringing a second firearm indicates premeditation.
The defense attorney William Porter on the other hand stressed that the jury is not here to sympathize with anyone and that they are to judge the credibility of the evidence provided. Further, he said it is not the jury’s job to solve a riddle and help the state. Explaining that their job is to decide whether Bryant Whitaker was the one who pulled the trigger.
Trial set to continue on July 30th.
