On Sept. 11 Judge Melissa K. Copeland set a murder trial for a defendant in 2027, after his mother’s trial for the same incident.
Ephrem Melekte,33, and his mother, Fasika Tsadik, 68 are charged with first-degree murder and dangerous weapon with intent to injure for the death of Mekonen Habteselassie, 71.
The co-defendants are being tried separately. The prosecutor anticipates that Melekte’s trial will last six days, but he expects complications due to the trial timelines. Tsadik’s trial was set to begin on Sept. 22.
Melekte refused to participate in the proceeding Friday but was present and heard everything that occurred.
According to charging documents, on Sept. 25, 2025, Baltimore Police Department (BPD) detectives were called to the 1200 block of North Patterson Park Avenue after officers were originally called to the location for a welfare check on Habtesselassie. Friends reported that they had not heard from the victim, which was unusual.
After making entry to the apartment, officers immediately located Habteselassie’s remains. An autopsy was conducted and the manner of death was ruled a homicide from stab wounds. The remains were found in the late stages of decomposition, with blood splatter found in various locations of the apartment, including bedrooms, the kitchen area, and on clothing.
Further investigation revealed that the victim lived at the residence with Tsadik and Melekte.
CCTV footage shows the pair leaving together. Tsadik holding a large bag and Melekte with a singular glove. Detectives presumed the glove is worn to cover wounds consistent with using a knife, according to charging documents.
Since leaving, neither Tsadik nor Melekte returned to the residence. CCTV footage shows them fleeing to Washington, D.C., but ultimately traveling to New York.
The trial date for Melekte is set for Jan. 11, 2027, which was his defense attorney’s earliest availability date. Due to the 2027 scheduling docket not yet being open, a presiding judge was not been scheduled.
