Trial Date Resolved for First-Degree Murder Suspect 

By Jeff Levine - March 21, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | stabbing | Suspects | Victims |

After some negotiating, a new trial date was set for a murder suspect in a March 21 reception court hearing before Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Judge Melissa K. Copeland.  

Kenneth Craig, 60, is charged with first-degree murder and having a deadly weapon with intent to injure for an incident on April 18, 2023 during which he allegedly killed 36-year-old Shakita Thomas. 

According to a Baltimore Police Department (BPD) press release, Craig allegedly stabbed Thomas to death on the 500 block of East Jeffrey Street.

Last September a motion for a speedy trial was filed on Craig’s behalf, and the case was set to begin on March 20. 

However, any additional delay was a matter of concern for Natalie Finegar, Craig’s attorney, who suggested April 22 for the proceeding as witnesses would be available. However, that strained Judge Copeland’s schedule for the circuit court.  

She said that “unfortunately” she had already been forced to move several cases in the coming weeks to accommodate a crowded docket and had no time for another April trial.

Meanwhile, the stand-in prosecutor expressed “sympathy” for the defendant, who was very upset by the delay.  Finegar concurred that a later date would be a “struggle” for Craig.

Reluctantly, Judge Copeland set a three-day trial starting on April 22 but, “Craig, has to know that this may completely be in August,” she said. “Let’s see what happens.” 

Craig appeared from detention for the proceeding via Zoom.