Witness Identifies Defendant in Westwood Avenue Fatal Stabbing

By Andrew Michaels , Alyssia Davis [former] - May 8, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

A Baltimore City prosecutor’s witness identified 35-year-old Darius Williams as the suspect who fatally stabbed Eric Jones on June 25, 2020.

During her closing argument on May 4, the prosecutor told jurors that Williams’ friend was at the scene on the 2300 block of Westwood Avenue where the 49-year-old victim was stabbed more than 20 times. Prior to the stabbing, the victim’s friend told Baltimore Police that she had seen the two arguing and Jones trying to escape.

Williams was found guilty of second-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon with the intent to injure on Thursday after brief deliberations before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Lynn Stewart Mays. His is currently scheduled for a Zoom hearing on Aug. 9.

Williams’ friend said she initially didn’t want to come forward with this information, but did so for the victim’s family.

However, defense attorney Linda Zeit responded that Williams’ friend was “an unreliable witness” who was nowhere near the crime scene at the time of the stabbing. Instead, she told the jury, it can be seen that the detective was “coaching” the witness in what to say to match what other witnesses told police.

The witness previously testified that she was at a doctor’s appointment and saw an ambulance in the area when she returned home. While she testified that she spoke with Jones after the stabbing but before his death, Zeit explained, video surveillance footage did not show the witness in the area.

Zeit described the witness’ statement as a “complete mess” in addition to the police department’s investigation, referring to another witness who did not identify her client as the killer.