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By
LaTrina Antoine
- November 3, 2021
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A trial date was set for a non-fatal shooting defendant after his attorney told a Baltimore City Circuit Court judge that he had not yet had the opportunity to review a plea offer from the prosecution with his client.
Leonard Morris is charged with attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, firearm use during a violent crime, carrying or wearing a handgun on his person, having a handgun in a vehicle on a public road and discharging a firearm. He is accused of shooting the father of his girlfriend’s children on Dec. 19, 2020.
The prosecution’s plea included a sentence of 35 years in prison, the first 5 years without parole, and 5 years on supervised probation for attempted first-degree murder.
Morris’ defense attorney, Rodney Gray, said he only received the offer on Monday, Nov. 1. He also told the Judge Melissa Phinn that he is waiting on more evidence from the prosecution.
Without a plea decision, and the need for more evidence from the prosecution, Gray said counsel spoke about a trial date in March 2022. The date corresponds with counsel schedules, he said.
The trial is expected to take four days, the prosecutor said. He also said the prosecution will not have any witnesses. The trial is scheduled to begin on March 24, 2022 and run until March 28, 2022. Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer will preside over the trial.
Maryland Judiciary’s website states that Morris has two other convictions in Baltimore City, one for altering the ID number on a firearm in 2017 and another for carry/wearing a handgun on person in 2008.