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By
Sage Cho
- February 21, 2025
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Victims
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Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland rejected the defense’s request to postpone homicide defendant Mark Custis’ trial date to July 14, which corresponds with his Hicks date. The Maryland Hicks rule requires that criminal trials must begin within 180 days of defendants’ initial appearance in circuit court, and July 14 would mark the 180th day since Custis’ initial appearance.
He is charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter in connection to the May 1, 2023 blunt force trauma-induced murder of 57-year-old Delroy Scott outside the 1400 block of E. Preston Street.
According to charging documents, Scott was involved in a verbal dispute with Custis’ wife and called her a “b*tch” multiple times, leading Custis to “become irate” and punch Scott multiple times in the face. After Scott fell backwards and his head struck the sidewalk, Custis allegedly grabbed Scott by the collar and continued to punch him, causing the victim’s head to hit the sidewalk with each punch. A nearby surveillance camera captured the entirety of the incident.
Custis allegedly admitted to the assault in an Aug. 24, 2023 taped video statement. Scott was pronounced deceased at 7:41 a.m. on Oct. 8, 2024, over a year after the incident. His wife informed police that Scott never recovered from his injuries and remained in hospitalization until the time of his death.
The stand-in prosecution told Judge Copeland that the original prosecutor on the case will be unavailable for trial until July 14.
“Oh, come on!” Judge Copeland proclaimed in response to the postponement request. “That’s his Hicks date.”
During the hearing, the prosecution offered a plea deal of 40 years, suspending all but 30, with five years of probation. Defense attorney Roland Harris rejected the offer on behalf of his client.
Judge Copeland determined that Harris and the original prosecutor likely discussed matters that were not made known to the stand-in prosecutor and ruled that, following further discussion between both parties, counsel will return to court Feb. 25 to settle a trial date.