Davon Holmes pled innocent today to fatally stabbing Marcellus Bailey in August 2011. Holmes, 29, is charged with one count of premeditated first-degree murder while armed.
Bailey, 24, died after being cut in the neck. At a preliminary hearing, MPD Detective Paul Regan said that Bailey was unarmed when he was killed. In his testimony before Judge Thomas Motley, Regan did not give any indication of motive in the case. Regan said two witnesses each described Bailey and Holmes together that night before Holmes struck out in an apparent slap at Bailey’s neck. Neither witness saw anything in Holmes’ hand.
Holmes has been offered a plea deal for second-degree murder. There is no mandatory sentencing minimum for second-degree murder; the minimum of first-degree murder is 30 years in prison.
The indictment will be added to this post later this afternoon.
