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By
Andrew Michaels
- December 21, 2023
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A Royal Farms security guard convicted for the murder of 26-year-old Marquise Powell earlier this year had her sentencing rescheduled for February 2024.
Kanisha Spence was set for sentencing on Dec. 21 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Kendra Y. Ausby; however, the proceedings were rescheduled for Feb. 1, 2024, for reasons unknown to Baltimore Witness.
The 52-year-old defendant was found guilty of second-degree murder and firearm use in a felony or violent crime on Aug. 31 following a two-day trial. Spence was initially charged with first-degree murder but was convicted of a lesser charge.
On Oct. 30, 2022, Powell, his girlfriend and his sister had stopped at a Royal Farms gas station for some snacks and drinks around 3 a.m. on the 1800 block of Washington Boulevard. According to the prosecutors who tried the case, the defendant and the victim got into an argument over the use of the store’s restroom. As the confrontation escalated, Spence took out her handgun and shot Powell in the head.
Defense attorney Roya Hanna argued at trial that her client feared for her life, saying Powell threatened Spence and threatened to take her weapon.