La Plata, MD – The dramatic five-day jury trial of Terrence Vernard Packer, 37 of Waldorf, consumed the courtroom of Charles County Circuit Court Judge Amy J. Bragunier for most of the week of Feb. 1.

There was contentious debate, at times erupting into outright shouting.

At one point during proceedings it was discovered that the victim in the case was receiving text messages from within the courtroom, prompting Bragunier to post notices on the courtroom door that cell phones were not allowed inside.

Testimony from Packer lasted late in the evening Thursday, Feb. 4 before the jury was handed the case Friday night.

Just after midnight, Saturday, Feb. 6, the 12-member jury rendered its verdict: Not guilty on all attempted murder charges against the victim, but he was found guilty of second-degree assault on the victim. He was found guilty of first-degree assault on all Charles County Sheriff’s Office deputies except one. Packer was also found guilty on all misdemeanor charges.

Bragunier revoked bond and Packer was incarcerated pending his sentencing.

In closing arguments Friday afternoon, Charles County Assistant State’s Attorney Sarah K. Freeman played the 911 call from the victim, hysterical and crying, telling the dispatcher that her boyfriend had assaulted her and had a gun.

Freeman then began recounting all that happened on the night of Feb. 24 into the wee hours of Feb. 25, from the victim screaming at the defendant after she discovered photos of his penis with semen on it and correspondence with another woman on Facebook and pornographic material. The argument resulted in a physical assault before Packer went and retrieved first his rifle, which the victim wrested from him and hid in the spare bedroom, then his shotgun.

When police arrived, a standoff eventually ended with Packer being shot by police.
When Freeman played police video, when the shots rang out, the victim ran sobbing from the courtroom.

“His reason may have been clouded,” she said, “but that is not an excuse for attempted murder.”

Charles County Assistant Public Defender Michele Harewood said that Packer intended to kill himself because she was in the process of leaving him.

She blamed his girlfriend for the situation escalating to the point where police had to be called.

“This is a person who is not level-headed,” Harewood asserted. “When she gets on something, she’s like the Everready bunny, she keeps going and going and going.”

She read a litany of phone calls, as many as nine or 10, made to various girlfriends and Packer’s mother before the victim ever called 911.

“If you have a fear for your life, why are you calling everybody else?” Harewood said, “call 911.”

Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com