Two men charged in the death of 30-year-old Christopher Banks appeared before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland on Halloween to resolve pre-trial matters and receive dates for their respective jury trials.
Windsor Mill resident Darius Willie Bell, 33, and Baltimore man Joseph Hubbard, 34, are charged with two counts of first-degree murder and multiple firearm violations, including the use of a firearm in a felony crime of violence, for their alleged involvement in Banks’ murder.
Officers responding to the shooting on the 5400 block of Park Heights Avenue located Banks suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, shortly before 10 p.m. Medics transported Banks to an area hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
U.S. Marshals arrested Bell and Hubbard on June 20, at a residence in Baltimore County.
In reception court on Oct. 31, the defendants appeared separately, and counsel made no mention of plans to join the two men’s cases for trial. Hubbard is now slated for trial before Judge Jeannie J. Hong on March 18, 2026, while Bell will return to reception court on May 26 to further discuss unresolved pretrial matters and potentially set a trial date.
No offer has been made yet in Hubbard’s case, but the prosecutor noted they plan to convey one to the defense pending a discussion with Banks’ next of kin.
Hubbard’s trial date will exceed his Hicks deadline of Jan. 13, 2026 by two months due to the unavailability of his defense attorney, Terry Lavenstein. During the hearing, Lavenstein informed Judge Copeland he would prefer a late March trial date, noting he expects to be scheduled for surgery sometime in the months prior.
“I don’t want to impact your health,” Judge Copeland told Lavenstein. “Are you sure about the March date?”
Lavenstein confirmed, saying he is “going to do whatever the court wants to do.”
Bell also waived his Hicks right agreeing to return to court in late May for scheduling.
The Maryland Hicks rule mandates that criminal trials must commence within 180 days of a defendant’s or attorney’s first appearance in circuit court. The deadline may be dismissed on findings of good cause.
