Tension Rises in Scheduling Hearing as Defendant with Dying Mother Awaits Undecided Retrial Date 

By Eleni Christou [former] - September 2, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On Sept. 1, defendant Willie L. Billinger appeared in reception court in order to schedule his retrial.

According to Baltimore Witness, Billinger was initially convicted on two counts of first-degree murder in 2016, and since then, his trial has been reopened in light of possible false testimonies.

Billinger’s defense attorney, Deborah Levi, expressed annoyance at the assistant state attorney’s lack of ability to compromise on trial dates. Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn agreed with Levi that the prosecutor had sufficient time to prepare and locate the necessary witnesses for retrial. 

Levi and Phinn both agree that a trial date should be chosen as soon as possible. Levi shared that Billinger’s mother is in dire health, and with this in mind, there is evident urgency for retrial dates. 

“I do not want this man sitting in jail until January, and then the state comes in and does nolle pros,” expressed Judge Phinn. 

Further, the assistant state’s attorney voiced his desire to motion for the use of recorded testimonies from the previous trial, in the instance that he is unable to locate the necessary witnesses. 

Phinn yet again conveyed frustration as she repetitively stated, “We should be able to have these motions ahead of time. I do not want Mr. Billinger to be sitting in jail until January and then the motions come in and the judge rules against them.” 

Moving forward, the topic of a motions hearing date was debated upon. With the prosecutor unable to offer four consecutive upcoming dates for trial due to unavailability until the new year, Nov. 1 was decided for the motions hearing. 

In lieu of elevated tensions and a long, heated discussion of potential trial dates, Judge Phinn determined that it would be best to decide on dates on the day of the motions hearing. For now, a retrial date remains undecided.

Billinger was convicted of the murders and fatal stabbings of Earline Thomas and Howard Martin, and sentenced to 60 years in 2016. According to documents from the District Court of Maryland, officers answered to reports of possible death(s) at the 2400 block of Paul Street. The officer first on scene claimed to have entered Billinger’s home to find both Thomas and Martin deceased with many stab wounds. 

The case is now up for retrial due to that same officer’s appearance on a list of hundreds of officers with questionable integrity as depicted by their past. The list was formulated and released by former State Attorney Marilyn Mosby in May 2022.

According to the Maryland Judiciary website, Billinger is charged with two counts of second-degree murder.