Glen Burnie man acquitted in shooting death of visitor to his home
By Pamela Wood, The Baltimore Sun
Updated June 20, 2014
A Glen Burnie man was acquitted Friday of charges that he murdered a man who barged into his home last fall.
Anne Arundel County Circuit Court Judge William C. Mulford II ruled that prosecutors had not proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Matthew Pinkerton was guilty of either second-degree murder or manslaughter in the September shooting death of Kendall Green.
Mulford’s ruling came at the conclusion of the prosecution, before Pinkerton’s attorneys launched their defense.
Green showed up at the Pinkerton home in the early morning hours of Sept. 15, demanding to see Pinkerton’s wife, with whom he had a relationship, according to both prosecutors and defense lawyers. Pinkerton demanded Green leave, but Green came through the front door. Pinkerton fired two shots, killing Green, attorneys said.
Prosecutor Brian Marsh argued the shooting was the culmination of a long-running feud between the two men.
Criminal Defense lawyer Peter O’Neill argued Pinkerton was defending his home, his friends and wife who were inside. At the end of the prosecution’s case Friday, O’Neill filed a motion asking the judge to declare the prosecution failed to meet its burden of proof. Mulford agreed.
“We were elated with the court’s decision … It was the right decision made based on the evidence presented,” O’Neill said.
Pinkerton, who had been out on bail, will now seek to revive his career as an Air Force sergeant, O’Neill said. Once Pinkerton was charged, his security clearance was suspended, O’Neill said.