Petition for Review by Three-Judge Panel, Motion for Modification Granted in Murder Case

By Andrew Michaels - May 20, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Shannon E. Avery granted a motion for modification and petition for review by a three-judge panel on Wednesday for a case dating back more than two decades

According to the Baltimore Sun, Cumberland resident Quinton Jermaine Heard, 45, was convicted of first-degree murder in 1997 and sentenced to life suspending all but 23 years. In 2011, Heard was released.

Four years later, Heard was found in violation of his probation after police arrested him and another man for allegedly firing handguns into traffic on Interstate 95.

During a hearing on May 19, Heard’s defense attorney, Mark Van Bavel, said the 2015 incident  went before a jury three times but failed to render a unanimous verdict. However, the violation of probation led to a separate hearing during which Heard was found guilty and received the suspended life sentence.

Van Bavel told the court that Heard’s defense counsel at the time was asked to file a motion for modification and review by a three-judge panel, which was never filed in court, despite having been prepared. An application for an appeal to the Court of Special Appeals was also filed and rejected, Van Bavel said.

Heard’s defense counsel in the 2015 case testified to the fact in court Wednesday.

Van Bavel asked the court to grant Heard a hearing so he can file for a three-judge panel and for modification. The prosecution conceded that limited relief was warranted in the ability to allow Heard to file within 90 days for a motion for modification and petition for review by a three-judge panel.

The motion was granted.