Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Getting Away With Murder: a Primer

We've been long curious as to why Baltimore & MD have such astronomical rates of "undetermined" deaths compared to other areas; this J&B story about the postmortem of suspected prostitute Tyra McClary, who apparently tied herself up, removed her own underwear and buried herself, is enlightening.

Fifteen years for first-degree murder: it never ceases to shock the shit outta me. Today's lucky winner of that incredible deal was Marcus L. Pettiford, 22, of the 2000 of E. 31st Street, who pled guilty and got 50 years, all but 15 suspended, and 5 years probation from Judge Charles G. Bernstein. Details:
On June 5, 2007 at approximately 12:04AM in the 1700 block of East 30th Street Pettiford approached Tyrone Bonner, 29. After a brief argument, Pettiford pulled out a handgun and shot Bonner five times. Pettiford and an alleged co-defendant fled on foot. Emergency personnel transported Bonner to Johns Hopkins hospital where he was pronounced dead at 12:33AM. Assistant State’s Attorney Josh Felsen of the Homicide Division prosecuted this case.
See, it's dangerous in the burbs, too: a man was shot in the neck ... or was it the jaw? outside of the Manhattan Grill in Perry Hall.

16 comments:

ppatin said...

Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy writing. Their first sentence talks about a "state coroner," but in Maryland there is no such position. I know it's kind of nitpicky, but there's a difference between a coroner and a medical examiner.

ppatin said...

"Fifteen years for first-degree murder: it never ceases to shock the shit outta me."

Those kinds of plea bargains always make me think of the very first episode of Homicide, where Pembelton flips out at Bayliss after he gets a confession out of the male prostitute who strangled an old man. I don't remember the exact words, but it was something like:

"The jury's going to see a dirty old man who got what he had coming! That means the state's attorney will bargain him down to five years, and he'll serve a THIRD of that! And you're telling me he never had a chance!"

At the time I remember thinking "this must be a BS scene, no way you can plead out to such a light sentence in real life." I was wrong.

John Galt said...

In the Blotter, a shoplifting hoodlum tries stabbing a responding officer at the 33rd Street Giant, and people are still being robbed at night in the nice, safe neighborhood just west of Greenmount.

Maurice Bradbury said...

... how did he grab $146 worth of seafood?! What, did he have live lobsters under there?
Then did they put the fish he stole back out on the floor for sale, after it had been under some old crazy guy's coat?

... I do like that Giant. They stock such a nice variety of ramen. But I don't know about that fish counter no mo.

ppatin said...

I used to shop at that Giant all the time. Not a bad store IMO, a lot better than the Safeway in Canton actually.

$146 worth of seafood is impressive though. Maybe he stole caviar?

John Galt said...

These guys used to stuff a coupla hams, a roast beef, two bags of onions, and a watermelon into their winter coats and then walk out scott-free looking like an overstuffed sausage.

That's YOUR money walking out the door.

On the seafood, you know the variety of caviar in stock at Giant is not very valuable unless in case lots. I'm guessing filet of salmon and lots of it.

ppatin said...

"That's YOUR money walking out the door."

If we started flogging shoplifters we wouldn't have this kind of nonsense.

Maurice Bradbury said...

It's got to be tins of crabmeat.
That or 8 live lobsters.

ppatin said...

"Is that a lobster under your jacket or are you just glad to see me?"

ppatin said...

By the way, can anyone here think of something fun & moderately original to do in Baltimore on a rainy Wednesday evening?

Maurice Bradbury said...

Lobster nite in Hampden?

bdshayne said...

ppatin, if it's before sunset, I'm always a big fan of picnicking at Cylburn Arboretum. Even though it's supposed to rain, you can still sit under the awning on the porch of the mansion.

I recommend picking up dinner from somewhere in Belvedere Square, which isn't too far from the arboretum.

After sunset, there's always Club Choices.

Maurice Bradbury said...

Is Skateland still open?

taotechuck said...

The main Pratt Library (on Cathedral) is open until 8pm on Wednesdays. That place has more nooks and crannies than you could possibly imagine, and if you are able to get on a librarian's good side, there's some amazing stuff hidden away in there.

There's an awesome sandwich shop on Park called Bouillabaisse. They're open until around 7, and they serve the best fries I've had in Baltimore.

Otherwise, Sound Garden in Fells is my favorite thing to do on a rainy Wednesday, if for no other reason than the free parking, the late hours, and the dog-friendly store policy.

ppatin said...

Chuck, Shayne and mjb: thanks so much for all the advice, although I believe I'll pass on Shayne's suggestion of Club Choices.

Anonymous said...

HELLO ALL THE MAN WHO WAS MURDERED WAS MY COUSIN. HE WAS A FATHER, A BROTHER, AND A SON AND HIS LIFE WAS ONLY WORTH 15 YEARS I HATE MD!