stephen pitcairn

After less than three hours of deliberation Wednesday, a Baltimore jury found John Alexander Wagner guilty of first-degree murder and armed robbery in the stabbing death of Johns Hopkins researcher Stephen Pitcairn, who was attacked last year as he talked to his mother on a cellphone.

Maryland's prison population has exploded since 1980, yet locking up more people hasn't made us safer; reforms to the criminal justice system could reduce costs of incarceration without compromising public safety

Testimony continues in the trial of John Wagner, accused of killing Stephen Pitcairn, the Hopkins researcher. Lavelva Merritt, 23, who was initially charged along with Wagner in the killing, is scheduled to take the stand. Prosecutors agreed to drop murder charges against her in exchange for her testimony against Wagner. She has pleaded guilty to robbery and conspiracy.

Jury selection began Monday in the trial of John A. Wagner, a 34-year-old city man accused of murdering a Johns Hopkins researcher last year.

Baltimore prosecutors delayed a violation of probation hearing Wednesday for Lavelva Merritt, who was charged with murder in the stabbing death of a Johns Hopkins researcher last year but pleaded guilty only to robbery-related crimes in May as part of a deal.

The Sun endorses Gregg Bernstein for Baltimore City State's Attorney.