Trial for Mother Accused of Murdering Her Baby Postponed

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A Baltimore County woman’s trial was postponed on June 24, after her defense attorney filed a not criminally responsible plea contending the suspect is not mentally competent to stand trial.

Aurielle Montgomery, 22, of Pikesville, Md., is charged with second-degree murder of her one-year-old daughter, first-degree child abuse resulting in the death of a child younger than 13, first-degree child abuse resulting in severe physical injury and second-degree child abuse by a custodian for an incident that happened on Oct. 4, 2022.

According to a Baltimore Police Department (BPD) press release and previous coverage, officers responded to a call reporting an unresponsive baby on the 2700 block of Ellicott Driveway. The infant, Nyemia Gilliard was pronounced dead at the scene and medical examiners ruled the victim’s death a homicide caused by trauma.

Before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge John A. Howard, Montgomery appeared with her attorney, Alex Leikus, who asked for the postponement. The prosecution did not object and Leikus explained that after meeting with Montgomery and her family, there were multiple reasons to file a plea that she was not criminally responsible and not competent to stand trial.

Judge Melisa K. Copeland did not issue another date for the case and decided to wait for the results of the pleas from mental health court.