‘The Wrong Person Is Sitting in That Chair,’ Defense Attorney Tells Jury

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On July 10, counsel delivered opening statements to begin a murder trial involving the death of a 40-year old man in southwest Baltimore.

Steven Gibson, 40, is charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime, having a handgun on his person and firearm possession with a felony conviction for the May 6, 2023, death of Nathaniel Mack on the 2100 block of Hollins Street.

Defense attorney Amanda Savage told the jury to listen out for lack of physical evidence that Gibson was the perpetrator, evidence pointing away from Gibson being the perpetrator and evidence of the Baltimore Police Department’s (BPD) failure to investigate.

“The wrong person is sitting in that chair,” Savage said as she began her opening statement.

Savage stated that when an eyewitness was brought in for the investigation and was given an array of pictures of possible perpetrators, including Gibson. She said the person who committed this murder was not in any of the photos.

Savage said here was another man on Gibson’s tier at Central Booking who was bragging about how he murdered Mack, however, detectives failed to follow up or conduct further investigation.

An eyewitness told police that the person who killed Mack was a tall, black man. However, Savage told the jury, “He’s shorter than I am.” Therefore, she argued, Gibson was not the perpetrator, because he did not match the eyewitness’ description.

The prosecutor on this case stated that after they were able to connect a white Acura car and phone found at the scene to Gibson, the police knew that he was the man who shot the victim. However, Savage argued that Gibson’s fingerprints were not found in the car.

The trial is slated to continue July 11 in front of Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Paul E. Alpert.