Thursday, March 19, 2015

Morgan State stabbing suspect claims self-defense, gets bail

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- The Morgan State University student charged with critically wounding another student during a fight could be released on bail, after his attorney argued that he has a "significant" self-defense claim.

District Court Judge Nathan Braverman set a $500,000 bail on Thursday morning for Carlos Mars, a 19-year-old Morgan student who is facing attempted first-degree murder and other charges for his role in a campus fight Tuesday afternoon.

Police initially said three people were stabbed, and university officials identified them as university football players. Officials later said two were stabbed and one was hurt by other means. Officials also said that the most seriously injured student was a former player who is not on the team this year, and the other stabbing victim was a student who is trying out for the team this spring. Cosca said others were hurt who are not known to police.

A District Court commissioner had initially ordered Mars held without bail.

Rebecca Cosca, a Silver Spring-based attorney, told Braverman said Mars was part of a "big brawl" involving several people. "This was a situation where he was trying to protect himself and his friends," she said.

Mars cooperated with police, telling his version of the events. Cosca said at least one of Mars' friends, who attended the court hearing, had also been cut during the fracas, but not by Mars.

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