Due to the unavailability of multiple prosecution witnesses in August and September and other issues, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland decided on June 13 to schedule Zion Clayton‘s murder trial past his speedy trial deadline of Oct. 13.
Clayton, 24, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and several felony firearm charges in connection to the Jan. 24 murder of 36-year-old Anthony D. McMichael, Jr. The incident is believed to have occurred in the 3000 block of Oakley Avenue.
During the pre-trial conference, the prosecution offered Clayton a plea offer for the charges of first-degree murder and felony firearm use. Clayton ultimately rejected the plea, the terms of which Baltimore Witness was unable to confirm.
The prosecution requested a four day trial to accommodate a large number of witnesses. Though Clayton wanted to exercise his right to speedy trial, parties had to delay his case due to a DNA analyst’s paternity leave, the unavailability of surveillance video witnesses and witness who could testify about maintaining evidence, and one witness requiring surgery and eight weeks to recover.
Clayton is currently set to return to court on June 26 for another pre-trial conference hearing.
