Prosecution and Defense Argue on the Reliability of Video Evidence During Closing Arguments

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On July 13, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Charles H. Dorsey heard closing arguments for a 2022 homicide case.

During closing statements, the prosecutor focused on the video surveillance footage that was recovered and showed the murder of 33-year-old Curtis Jones and the attempted murder of another victim. The prosecution’s case relied on this video and three witnesses who identified the alleged suspect as Darryon Cephas.

A jury reached their verdict the same day, finding the defendant guilty of first-degree murder, first-degree assault, firearm possession with a felony conviction, attempted second-degree murder and two counts of firearm use in a felony or violent crime.

The prosecutor argued that the man shown in the video was Cephas because of his distinctive tattoos and a bandage on his left hand, which was seen on the perpetrator shown in the video.

Cephas’ defense attorney, Maureen Rowland, argued that murder cases have serious consequences and “a video is not serious.” Rowland claimed that video surveillance isn’t reliable and the perpetrator’s face in the video is unclear.

She also questioned the reliability of an identifying witness because he is currently in prison. Rowland claimed that Cephas shouldn’t be charged for any gun-related crime because no shell casings or bullet was recovered at the scene. Additionally, she said, the medical examiner wasn’t an expert.

“Please do not find this man guilty on this evidence,” she said, stressing the lack of physical evidence.

The prosecutor concluded closing statements by saying that there was definitely a gun present at the crime scene because video surveillance shows the perpetrator chasing the victim with a gun in hand. The prosecutor claimed that the video was not manipulated and that although Cephas must be presumed innocent at the start of the trial, the prosecution disputed his innocence with evidence.

Cephas, 23, is charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony or violent crime, attempted first and second-degree murder, first-degree assault and possession of a firearm with a felony conviction.

According to a Fox News, on June 15, police officers with the Baltimore Police Department responded to a shooting on the 400 block of W. Mulberry Street. Upon arrival, Jones was found suffering from a gunshot wound inside his vehicle.

Jones was taken to a nearby hospital where he died from his injuries.

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