BLOG: State And Defense Lay Out Their Cases In Glen Burnie Murder Trial

The combination of drugs, alcohol and guns are usually a recipe for trouble.  The events leading up to the November killing of Misael Flores at Mr. Wings & Pizza are a prime example of how dangerous this combination can be.

In the , both parties agree that defendant, Vincent Bunner, and his companions engaged in behavior the evening of the murder that was wrong and potentially unlawful. However, the State and defense disagree as to whether Mr. Bunner pulled the trigger that fired the deadly shot.

In its opening, the State detailed to the jury that its evidence would show that the Mr. Bunner fired the fatal shot during a robbery of Mr. Wings & Pizza. If the State is successful in convincing the jury that Mr. Bunner pulled the trigger, Mr. Bunner would be guilty of first-degree murder, as the murder would have taken place during the commission of another felony—a robbery of Mr. Wings & Pizza.

The defense admitted that Mr. Bunner was part of a plan to commit a robbery that evening but denied that Mr. Bunner pulled the trigger and was he part of a plan to commit murder that evening.

As one would expect, the defense appears to be taking a very aggressive position in this case right from the beginning by trying to plant seeds of doubt about the State's witnesses. The State has informal agreements with some of the witnesses about favorable resolutions to their cases if the witnesses provide testimony for the State at trial, according to an article in the Maryland Gazette. What is even more important for the defense is whether the jury will be convinced that Mr. Bunner had any knowledge that a murder was going to be committed at Mr. Wings & Pizza. 

Interestingly, the State and defense appear to agree as to some of the facts leading up to the killing, including the use of drugs and alcohol as well as the defense conceding that there was a plan to commit a robbery. By acknowledging some undisputed events that occurred on the evening of the killing, the defense hopes to gain some credibility with the jury so that the jury will believe and trust the defense's version of events when the case is complete and deliberations begin. 

Mr. Bunner has been charged with numerous criminal offenses, including robbery and first degree murder. Success for Mr. Bunner at trial may very well be judged by whether he can avoid a first degree murder conviction.