Trial Ends in Mistrial for  Baltimore Man Charged with Murder

By Jamarne Jones [former] - November 15, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On Nov. 14, a jury found themselves deadlocked in the case of a Baltimore man charged with a 2018 murder.

Defense attorney Amy Stone started closing arguments on Nov. 10 with highlights from Club Indulge surveillance footage from the night Tracy Whiting was killed in Baltimore City. 

In the video, the defendant Damien Woods and the victim could be seen accompanied by another gentleman. 

The third gentleman became a star witness for the prosecution testifying that Woods had “bragged” to him about killing the victim. 

Stone said she believed the witness had a “faux motive” for identifying Woods as the man with Whiting on the night of her murder and had “fed detectives information to save his own skin.” 

It was also pointed out by the defense that Club Indulge is located on what is notoriously known as “The Block,” a popular street known for its nightlife in downtown Baltimore. In the area, there are a lot of cameras, but none show the defendant “actually leaving” the club. 

During the trial, the prosecution called upon Wood’s girlfriend to corroborate the timeline between the defendant leaving the club and the time he reached his home. According to her, there were four hours unaccounted for in Woods’ journey.

Woods, 35, was charged with first-degree murder, using a firearm in a felony violent crime, and possessing a firearm with a felony conviction in connection with the November 2018 murder.  

The jury sent several notes to Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jennifer Schiffer, one concerning the language abilities of one of the jurors. The judge said that she had spoken with the particular juror, and it didn’t seem she had any problem understanding the English language. The jury was advised of their duties and sent to deliberate for a second time.

In the end, the proceedings ended in a mistrial.