A Baltimore County jury found a Randallstown man not guilty of first-degree murder Friday.
Sterling Lewis, 22, of the 3900 block of Nemo Road was also charged with first-degree assault, use of a handgun in commission of a violent crime and attempted robbery with a dangerous or deadly weapon.
Nine of Lewis' family members present in the courtroom cried out loud as the verdict was read.
The jury in Baltimore County Circuit Court took a day and a half to reach the verdict.
According to testimony, Lewis and another man—identified as Reginald Frederick, who was convicted in July—attempted to rob Lewis' friend, Everald Thomas.
Thomas testified that late on March 27, 2011, he pulled over his car in the 4000 block of Winlee Road in Randallstown for what he believed was a marijuana sale. Thomas was accompianied by friend Willie Jackson, 19, of Milford Mill. Two masked men—one of whom Thomas immediately recognized as Lewis—got in his car to discuss the deal.
Thomas got out of the car and was allegedly held up by Lewis. Jackson got out of the car, and was followed by Frederick. The two got into a fight, Thomas testified, and then Thomas joined the fight to defend Jackson. Lewis allegedly fired several shots from his handgun, hitting Jackson.
A handgun found in a bookbag in the Baltimore City residence where Lewis was arrested matched spent cartridges left at the scene.
However, in the trial this week, defense attorney Warren Brown attempted to cast doubt largely upon Thomas, the state's key witness. Thomas had misled police in his early statements following the shooting and withheld his knowledge that led to Lewis and Frederick.
Prosecutors countered that evidence backed the story that Thomas later told investigators, and to the jury on the stand. However, the evidence was apparently not sufficient to convict Lewis. Brown said he was "not surprised" by the jury's decision.
"It was just this one guy who admittedly lied often to the detectives," Brown said after the verdict. "I certainly think that there was reasonable doubt there."
Prosecutor Joe Dominick was not available for comment immediately after the verdict.
What an Idiot!
I think that you're on to something, but I would suggest taking it a step further. I would like to see the authorities take up the position that if anyone is CONVICTED of a felony then if and when they die in what is now considered a "homicide" would be reclassified into "one less criminal on the street" and the police would not waste their time and energy (to say nothing of the money involved) doing an investigation of the so-called crime. Just call in the Fire Department to do a "wash down" of the "crime scene" and let that be the end of it. The friends, families, brother gang members, and the like would take care of the rest for us and AT NO COST to the taxpayer and law-abiding citizen regardless of race, creed, color natural origin, or even their immigration status. I call this plan the Good Riddance to Bad Rubbish project.
Conspiracy theorist I guess I am.
I have a question for people like you who think that anyone who did not vote for Obama is a racist: what label do you have for a black man who did not vote for him?
FYI....Not saying that all white people are racist either or all people who voted against Obama is miss iinformed..that was a joke. I believe people vote on the issues...I hope!
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