Man pleads not guilty in newsroom deaths

ANNAPOLIS, MD. — A man charged with killing five people in The Capital newsroom in Maryland pleaded not guilty Monday in court papers, and his lawyers contended any identification of their client at trial will be tainted due to “impermissible” identification procedures used by police.

Lawyers for Jarrod Ramos entered the not guilty plea in electronic court filings shortly before his scheduled initial appearance, which was cancelled due to the filings. The appearance was no longer needed because Ramos’ lawyer, William Davis, formally entered his client’s appearance in court documents. Davis made requests for discovery and a speedy trial.

“By doing that, that eliminates the need for an initial appearance because he now has counsel. He is represented,” Wes Adams, the Anne Arundel County state’s attorney, told reporters outside the courtroom.

Ramos, who is being held without bail, was indicted by a grand jury on 23 counts, including murder, attempted murder and assault. Police say he used a shotgun to blast his way into the newsroom on June 28. Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith and Wendi Winters were killed.

Ramos’ lawyers contend in court papers that “any in-court identification at the trial of the defendant will be tainted as a result of impermissible suggestive identification procedures undertaken by police authorities and/or will be the result of an illegal arrest or search.” The filing did not elaborate. Ramos was identified by authorities through facial recognition technology.

His lawyers also argued in Monday’s filings that evidence seized in the case was obtained illegally. They also demanded that prosecutors produce at trial “the chemist, analyst, technician, or other person who analyzed any substance alleged by the prosecution to be a controlled dangerous substance, including any substance used as a standard of comparison.”