OFFICE OF THE STATE’S ATTORNEY

FOR

BALTIMORE CITY

 

208 THE CLARENCE M. MITCHELL, JR. COURTHOUSE

 

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21202

 

Patricia C. Jessamy                                                                                                                                                                       Phone

   State’s Attorney

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

 

For Information Contact:                    Margaret T. Burns

Chief, Communications & Governmental Affairs

                                                            Office (443) 984-1121 or Cell (443) 474-7479

                                                                        Or

Joseph Sviatko, Public Information Officer

Office (443) 984-1122 or Cell (410) 790-3248

MEDIA ADVISORY

 

ERIK STODDARD SECOND-DEGREE MURDER TRIAL SCHEDULED TO BEGIN MONDAY, APRIL 14, 2008

 

Third Trial for Stoddard; Court Granted New Trial Last Year, Court of Appeals Vacated First Murder Conviction in 2005; City Juries Twice Convicted Stoddard

 Of Second-Degree Murder, in 2003 and 2007

 

 Baltimore, MD – April 11, 2008 – The murder trial of Erik Stoddard, 27, of the 2500 block of Moore Avenue, is scheduled to begin at 9:30AM Monday, April 14, 2008 before Judge Kaye Allison, 231 Mitchell Courthouse, 110 North Calvert Street.

 

On July 5, 2007 a Baltimore Circuit Court judge vacated Stoddard’s second-degree murder conviction, citing a voir dire question not asked of prospective jurors before last year’s trial in which a Baltimore City jury convicted Stoddard May 16, 2007 of second-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death for the death of Calen Faith Dirubbo, three.

 

On December 8, 2005 the Maryland Court of Appeals vacated Stoddard’s second-degree murder conviction, citing evidentiary issues regarding the testimony of a three-year old witness.  A Baltimore City jury convicted Stoddard March 13, 2003 of second-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death of Dirubbo.

 

Court documents allege that on June 15, 2002 Dirubbo was pronounced dead at her home, where she lived with her mother and Stoddard.  Dirubbo died as a result of multiple beatings over a period of at least a month; the fatal blow occurred June 15, 2002 and severed her bowel.

 

Julie Drake, Chief of the Felony Family Violence Division, will prosecute this case.

 

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