BANGOR, Maine — A Superior Court judge on Tuesday denied bail to a New York man charged with murder in the fatal stabbing of a Bangor man last year.
Akeem T. Harris, 24, of Amityville, N.Y., pleaded not guilty April 26 to intentional or knowing murder at the Penobscot Judicial Center in connection with Thomas N. Taylor’s death. He has been held without bail since then at the Penobscot County Jail in Bangor and the Maine State Prison in Warren.
Taylor, 30, of Bangor, died of a single stab wound to the back at Eastern Maine Medical Center a short time after he was stabbed about 6 p.m. April 9, 2013, in the parking lot of Birch Circle apartments, the affidavit, filed last year at the Penobscot Judicial Center, said.
Harris has claimed he acted in self defense.
Justice Ann Murray concluded that, if released, Harris might pose a danger to the community. She ruled he was not a flight risk.
Harris’ attorney Richard Hartley of Bangor told Murray that although his client’s family owns property in New York, Maine law only allows property in Maine to be posted as bail. He asked that bail be set at $20,000 or $25,000 cash and Harris be allowed to live with his mother in Amityville, N.Y. Hartley said that Harris’ extended family might be able to raise that much in a few weeks but not more.
More than half a dozen members of Harris’ family attended the hearing as did family members of the victim. They declined to be interviewed by reporters.
Assistant Attorney General Leane Zainea argued that in addition to posing a danger to the community if released, Harris was a flight risk. She said that Harris had been a student at Eastern Maine Community College when the stabbing occurred and had no ties to or family in Maine.
Bail is rarely granted in murder cases.
Harris is scheduled to be tried in December.
If convicted of murder, Harris faces between 25 years and life in prison.