Parties Argue Over Evidence, Courtroom Decorum During Murder Hearing

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Lawyers exchanged heated accusations in Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Piper F. McKeithen‘s courtroom during a status hearing for 17-year-old murder defendant Xyliq Synzere on Aug. 13.

Synzere is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one each of firearm use in a felony crime of violence, having a loaded handgun in his vehicle and having a loaded handgun on his person. Synzere was charged in relation to a fatal near-midnight shooting incident from last summer that led to the death of Trey Sanders, 22.

On July 26, 2024, at approximately 11:24 p.m. Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers arrived at the 1000 block of N. Eden Street for a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they found Sanders lying on the sidewalk with three fatal bullet wounds to his head.

The investigation revealed that prior to the incident, Sanders, Synzere and three other individuals allegedly arrived at the location in a 2014 Acura MDX to attend a cookout. Afterward, Synzere reportedly shot Sanders in the vicinity of the car, before leaving with the three others.

As the hearing drew to a close, defense attorney Deborah Levi and the prosecution attorney exchanged words with Levi saying she felt “deeply, deeply, deeply concerned” by the prosecution’s actions. She alleged that during a recess, the prosecutor shouted words in the hallway that caused a member of Sanders’ family to cry–Levi questioned why the hearing had become personal.

The prosecution retorted that Levi previously attacked one of their witnesses by calling him “boy,” and said he was stunned to hear Levi discuss decorum.

Earlier, the prosecution submitted a motion to quash a police witness’ subpoena and asked the court to limit the type of questions Levi could ask about the evidence. Judge McKeithen granted the prosecution’s request to limit questions, but denied their motion to quash.

Then Levi claimed the prosecution filed the motion against regulations and fretted about the prosecution’s unwillingness to discuss evidence handled by the previous prosecuting attorney.

“I am trying to fight the rules with the rules,” the prosecution said.

The witness, a BPD detective, testified about surveillance footage, noting that the owner of the N. Eden Street home where the incident occurred created a highlight reel of the crime but without using facial recognition software.

Attempting to moderate, the judge called for the two attorneys to behave with professionalism.

Synzere’s next hearing is scheduled for Aug. 25.