Man Asks Court To Overturn Murder Conviction In Stabbing Death

Bowie MD

15 October, 2021

12:58 PM

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PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Sean Urbanski's attorneys have asked Maryland's second highest court to throw out his murder conviction, handed down after he was charged with stabbing to death Lt. Richard Collins III in May 2017. Prince George's County prosecutors say the killing was a "racially motivated hate crime." Circuit Court Judge Lawrence Hill Jr. dismissed a hate crime charge against Urbanski before a jury convicted him of first-degree murder in December 2019, according to AP News. But the judge allowed prosecutors to present evidence that Urbanski had at least half a dozen racist memes on his phone and followed a Facebook group called "Alt-Reich: Nation." WTOP-FM reports that Urbanski's attorneys believe the trial judge shouldn't have allowed jurors to see or hear about racist memes investigators found on Urbanski's phone after he killed Collins III. However, Urbanski's lawyers said prosecutors presented no evidence that their client ever made racist statements or held racist views. "Rather, the State maintained that because (Urbanski) had racist memes on his phone, and because he assaulted a Black man, it followed that he had a racist motive and intent on the night of this crime," defense attorneys wrote. Urbanski will be eligible for parole per the judge's sentence, although prosecutors had sought the maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Collins was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and was days away from graduating from Bowie State University. He was out celebrating his impending graduation with a friend at local bars on the night of his killing. Urbanski had been enrolled at the University of Maryland's College Park campus and was out drinking with friends at bars before the killing. The University of Maryland plans to build a memorial in honor of Collins III who was fatally stabbed on campus, according to The Washington Post. Collins III was waiting at a bus stop when Urbanski approached him and, according to court documents, Urbanski told Collins III, "Step left. Step left if you know what's best for you. Prosecutors say Collins III responded, "No," and Urbanski then stabbed him in the chest with a 3-inch knife blade. RELATED: Former UMD Student Convicted Of Murder To Be Sentenced ThursdayDonation Fund Set Up For Slain Bowie State University Student