Martin Cohen Archives - Baltimore Witness

Murder Defendant Anticipates Retrial Date in May

Details Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland granted a pre-trial date of May 9 for murder defendant Jermaine Sanders after his new defense attorney, Martin Cohen, requested more time... Read More

Jury Trial Set for Alleged South Paca Street Killer

Details Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland scheduled a June 30 jury trial for homicide defendant Damion Thomas, 44. Thomas is accused of killing Brian Nesbitt, 37, on Aug.... Read More

Judge Postpones Attempted Murder Trial Because of Tainted Jury

Details Devonte Lassiter, 33, is on trial for an altercation that occurred on June 8 at the intersection of South Broadway and Thames Street, where he allegedly shot and injured a... Read More

Judge Denies Bail for Suspect Who Allegedly Shot at Roommate in Brawl Over Booze

By Laura Flores - January 29, 2025
Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Suspects |

Details A man accused of shooting at his roommate in an argument over alcohol was denied bail and home detention instead of jail on Jan. 28. Charles Ward, 25, is charged... Read More

Defense Attorney ‘Dumbfounded’ by Murder Charges for South Paca Street Shooting

Details A Baltimore City Circuit Court judge denied to change the status of a homicide defendant’s bail for the murder of 37-year-old Brian Nesbitt earlier this year, despite defense counsel’s argument... Read More

Judge Postpones Trial for 21-Year-Old Defendant Due to Scheduling Conflict

Details Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Lynn S. Mays postponed a 21-year-old defendant’s case to December in an Oct. 8 hearing. Dontay McKoy is facing charges of first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, firearm... Read More

Defendant Accepts Manslaughter Plea For Killing His Two-Year-Old Daughter

Details A Baltimore man charged with his two-year-old daughter’s death pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter on Aug. 23, less than a year after she was shot in the family’s home. Christopher... Read More

Man Incompetent to Stand Trial After ‘Interesting Statements’

Details A man claiming to be a member of the famed “Jackson Five” singing group was found incompetent to stand trial in Baltimore City Circuit Court on Aug. 14. Reginald Benbow,... Read More

Mental Evaluation Ordered for Shooting Suspect Claiming He’s a Jackson Five Member

By Nina Wilson [former] - July 31, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Suspects |

Details A man accused of shooting his friend in the knee claimed he was a member of the Jackson Five as well as a recording executive during a hearing to determine... Read More

Retiree Denied Bail for February Shooting

Details A 61-year-old accused of a February non-fatal shooting was denied bail by Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey M. Geller despite his attorney’s concerns regarding his competency. Reginald Benbow is... Read More

Woman Sentenced in Shooting of 78-Year-Old Man

Details On July 8, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jeannie J. Hong sentenced a woman convicted of shooting a 78-year-old man in the face to 41 years in prison. Marika Crawford,... Read More

Man Accused of Killing Two-Year-Old Daughter Gets September Trial Date

Details A 28-year-old infanticide defendant was given a September trial date by Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland in an April 30 hearing. Christopher Gamble is charged with second... Read More

Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Murder in Shooting Over Stolen License Plates

Details On April 1, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Charles H. Dorsey III accepted the guilty plea of a 31-year-old attempted murder defendant who shot a man for stealing his license... Read More

Acquitted: Ex-Marine Not Guilty of 2023 Non-Fatal Shooting

Details A 63-year-old Marine Corps veteran was cleared of all charges by Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey M. Geller Wednesday after his attorney successfully argued he shot the victim in... Read More

Defense Claims Victim Attacked Defendant With Knife Before Shooting

Details Living in an area of West Baltimore filled with vacant homes, 63-year-old Antonio Fitzhugh was defending himself when the alleged victim attacked him with a knife, Fitzhugh’s defense counsel said... Read More

Retrial in Limbo for Man Accused of Murder, Burning Body

Details On Feb. 29, homicide defendant Jimmy Murphy received a motions hearing date from Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland. Murphy, 28, is being retried for first- and second-degree... Read More

Judge Grants Postponement in Shannon Drive Murder Case

Details The jury trial for a 2023 homicide case was postponed on Monday morning due to the prosecutor’s illness. Defendant Desron Barber, 22, is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree assault, using... Read More

Father ‘Intentionally Covered Up’ His Two-Year-Old Daughter’s Murder, Prosecutor Argues

Details A Baltimore City prosecutor argued homicide defendant Christopher Gamble not only shot and killed his two-year-old daughter, Charlee Gamble, but “intentionally covered up” the murder at the family’s home in... Read More

Missing Witness Delays Trial of Non-Fatal Shooter

Details Attempted murder defendant Antonio Fitzhugh appeared in court on Feb. 16 with his attorney, Martin Cohen, ready to proceed to trial the day after it was originally scheduled. The hold-up... Read More

Non-Fatal Shooting Defendant Frustrated by Trial Delay

Details The defendant in a non-fatal shooting trial expressed his frustrations over his trial’s being postponed. On Jan. 29, defendant Cameron Cunningham, 20, appeared before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa... Read More

West Lanvale Street Attempted Murder Defendant Gets February Trial Date

Details On Jan. 23, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland scheduled a trial for a 62-year-old attempted murder defendant. Antonio Fitzhugh is charged with attempted first- and second-degree murder,... Read More

‘Everybody Agrees: There’s No Gun,’ Defense Says at Accused Shooter’s Bail Review

Details Defense counsel for 36-year-old non-fatal shooting defendant Louis Franklin argued no shooting ever occurred during an incident last fall for which his client was charged, despite the prosecutor’s assertion that... Read More

Victim Shot at Shooter First in ‘Anticipatory Defense,’ Prosecutor Says at Defendant’s Bail Review

Details A 20-year-old Baltimore man was denied bail on Jan. 12 for his involvement in a hit-and-run turned shootout on Frederick Road in May 2023. During Friday’s bail review before Baltimore... Read More

2023 Attempted Murder Defendant Rejects Plea Deal

Details A 30-year-old attempted murder defendant rejected a plea deal before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland on Jan. 11. Willie Harris-Stanley is charged with attempted first- and second-degree... Read More