The Phylicia Barnes Murder Trial: Day Of Celebrations Won’t Overshadow Pursuit Of Justice For Slain Honors Teen
Posted by David Adams on February 5th, 2013
The town is painted in purple as native Baltimoreans gear up for the celebratory festivities of another Super Bowl victory for the second time in Baltimore Ravens team history, the city prepares to officially say goodbye to legendary Ravens Linebacker Ray Lewis, and just foot steps away from where the Ravens victory parade will begin at City Hall there is a more important event playing out in the backdrop at a Baltimore Circuit Court East courtroom. The tragic story of a pretty and promising little girl who lost her life while visiting Baltimore two years ago is finally reaching it’s culmination, as 12 citizens from Baltimore work deliberating in the murder trial of Michael Johnson vs. The People of Maryland, to determine if he in fact killed Phylicia Simone Barnes as state prosecutors have alleged. The trial judge Alfred Nance had offered the jurors the opportunity to take an early lunch break to allow jurors the opportunity to get a glimpse of the Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl victory parade. Surprisingly, the jury declined and decided to work through the celebration. Many followers of the case find the move admirable because it shows serious attention is being given to the magnitude and importance of the case. The jurors also sent request to the judge shortly after deliberations began, asking for audio & video equipment, a T.V., and markers in an early sign that the jury may be in deliberations for some time. The timing of the conflict couldn’t be foreseen because the planned trial period simply coincidentally just happened to fall right around the time of the Super Bowl, and a Ravens victory could not have been predicted. The scene in downtown Baltimore is chaotic with all traffic moving at a snail’s pace. While hundreds of thousands of Baltimoreans celebrate their local football teams championship victory, enjoying life, and the fanfare of a city’s pride seems unfair that Raheem and Janice Mustafa’s precious daughter lost her life in this exact same city without provocation. Although the movement bares an untimely contrast suitable for the pursuit of justice, some of Phylicia’s Baltimore family left the courthouse yesterday appearing confident that justice will be served. For the time being Baltimore will celebrate a National Football League Super Bowl Championship for the hometown Baltimore Ravens football team, but there is work being done as we speak to find justice for a little girl who died senselessly. The verdict can come at any moment now. We’re still praying for justice!!!
David B. Adams is a journalist, crime writer, and founder of The People's Champion, a platform built on truth, justice, and advocacy for the overlooked. For over a decade, Adams has investigated wrongful convictions, missing and exploited children, homelessness, and the political forces that shape marginalized communities' lives.
What sets his work apart is a refusal to sensationalize. Adams treats crime reporting as human storytelling — pushing past headlines to examine the systemic failures in law enforcement, the courts, and government that so often go unexamined. He's built a reputation among activists and advocates for combining deep research, personal narrative, and unflinching commentary.
The People's Champion began as a personal outlet and has grown into a respected independent voice in crime and justice journalism, read by audiences nationwide who care about accountability and the people too often left out of the story.
The town is painted in purple as native Baltimoreans gear up for the celebratory festivities of another Super Bowl victory for the second time in Baltimore Ravens team history, the city prepares to officially say goodbye to legendary Ravens Linebacker Ray Lewis, and just foot steps away from where the Ravens victory parade will begin at City Hall there is a more important event playing out in the backdrop at a Baltimore Circuit Court East courtroom. The tragic story of a pretty and promising little girl who lost her life while visiting Baltimore two years ago is finally reaching it’s culmination, as 12 citizens from Baltimore work deliberating in the murder trial of Michael Johnson vs. The People of Maryland, to determine if he in fact killed Phylicia Simone Barnes as state prosecutors have alleged. The trial judge Alfred Nance had offered the jurors the opportunity to take an early lunch break to allow jurors the opportunity to get a glimpse of the Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl victory parade. Surprisingly, the jury declined and decided to work through the celebration. Many followers of the case find the move admirable because it shows serious attention is being given to the magnitude and importance of the case. The jurors also sent request to the judge shortly after deliberations began, asking for audio & video equipment, a T.V., and markers in an early sign that the jury may be in deliberations for some time. The timing of the conflict couldn’t be foreseen because the planned trial period simply coincidentally just happened to fall right around the time of the Super Bowl, and a Ravens victory could not have been predicted. The scene in downtown Baltimore is chaotic with all traffic moving at a snail’s pace. While hundreds of thousands of Baltimoreans celebrate their local football teams championship victory, enjoying life, and the fanfare of a city’s pride seems unfair that Raheem and Janice Mustafa’s precious daughter lost her life in this exact same city without provocation. Although the movement bares an untimely contrast suitable for the pursuit of justice, some of Phylicia’s Baltimore family left the courthouse yesterday appearing confident that justice will be served. For the time being Baltimore will celebrate a National Football League Super Bowl Championship for the hometown Baltimore Ravens football team, but there is work being done as we speak to find justice for a little girl who died senselessly. The verdict can come at any moment now. We’re still praying for justice!!!
David B. Adams is a journalist, crime writer, and founder of The People's Champion, a platform built on truth, justice, and advocacy for the overlooked. For over a decade, Adams has investigated wrongful convictions, missing and exploited children, homelessness, and the political forces that shape marginalized communities' lives.
What sets his work apart is a refusal to sensationalize. Adams treats crime reporting as human storytelling — pushing past headlines to examine the systemic failures in law enforcement, the courts, and government that so often go unexamined. He's built a reputation among activists and advocates for combining deep research, personal narrative, and unflinching commentary.
The People's Champion began as a personal outlet and has grown into a respected independent voice in crime and justice journalism, read by audiences nationwide who care about accountability and the people too often left out of the story.
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