The state prison inmate convicted Friday of murdering a correctional officer chose Tuesday to be sentenced by a judge, not a Howard County jury.
Retired Anne Arundel Circuit Judge Joseph Manck will decide whether Brandon Morris, 22, of Baltimore City, should receive the death penalty for three murder convictions in Howard Circuit Court.
Morris? attorney Arcangelo Tuminelli said, “The nature of the crime mandates that Mr. Morris be sentenced by this court without a jury.”
Prosecutors on Tuesday called several witnesses who could influence Morris? sentence, including state Trooper Richard Bachtell, who interviewed Morris after police chased him to the Pennsylvania state line and apprehended him Jan. 26, 2006.
Bachtell said Morris didn?t remember shooting to death Correctional Officer Jeffrey Wroten, who was guarding him at Washington County Hospital, carjacking a taxi at gunpoint and running from police.
Bachtell read from the transcript of an interview with Morris who said, “Next thing I remember is waking up outside ? gun in one hand, money in the other ? so cold I could not move my fingers.” Bachtell said Morris described Wroten as “a nice dude” and they talked about movies and Wroten?s family.
Prosecutors did not address Morris? escape attempt from the courtroom in May during jury selection for the initial trial. The judge could have considered this incident as Morris? potential for causing future danger.
Washington County State?s Attorney Joseph Michael called the event “the elephant in the room.”
Prosecutors claimed Morris reached for a deputy sheriff?s gun as he rushed the door, and defense attorney Harun Shabazz could have taken the stand to testify he never saw Morris do so.
