Public Defender Withdraws from May Attempted Murder Case Citing Conflict of Interest

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A 54-year-old defendant’s public defender disclosed to the Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn that she has a conflict of interest and won’t be able to further represent her client.

Walter Holmes’ attorney, Julie Shapiro, said that she will find Holmes a private attorney selected by the Public Defender Service to take her place.

Holmes then rejected the stand-in prosecutor’s plea offer of life, suspending all but 50 years, with five years of supervised probation for attempted first-degree murder and a consecutive 10 years, the first five without the possibility of parole, for firearm use in a felony violent crime.

Due to Holmes being in between attorneys, Judge Phinn continued the hearing. Holmes and his new counsel will appear before her on Oct. 13 for scheduling.

Holmes is charged with attempted first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, firearm use in a felony violent crime, firearm possession with a felony conviction and having a gun within 100 yards of the public in connection to a May 17 incident.

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