A Charleston jury has acquitted Alan Baker of attempted murder but found him guilty on multiple charges related to a February 2022 stabbing at an apartment in Charleston, according to court reporting. jurors rejected Baker’s claim that he acted in self-defense and concluded he unlawfully assaulted the victim and possessed a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
Verdict and charges
Prosecutors said Baker entered the apartment armed with brass knuckles and a knife and intentionally attacked Ashley Martin. Martin suffered five stab wounds during the confrontation, the jury heard, and she testified that Baker also choked her until she lost consciousness.
- Not guilty: Attempted murder
- Guilty: Possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime
- Guilty: Assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature
| Charge | Jury outcome |
|---|---|
| Attempted murder | Not guilty |
| Possession of a weapon during violent crime | Guilty |
| Assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature | Guilty |
Conflicting accounts at trial
The case turned on sharply different accounts of what happened inside the apartment. Martin testified that Baker arrived with the woman identified in court as her former girlfriend, Lindsey, who was at the unit to collect belongings. Martin said she asked Lindsey to speak privately and that Baker became involved, producing brass knuckles and striking her before stabbing her five times.
“He pulled his brass knuckles out. And he swung on me.”
Martin told jurors she had a gun in the apartment earlier that day but that the firearm remained inside a cabinet during the confrontation and that she never drew it.
Witnesses called by the defense offered a different version. One witness, described at trial as Baker’s friend and Martin’s former girlfriend, testified Baker was at the apartment because Lindsey had a key and was retrieving her belongings. That witness said Martin became confrontational after seeing Baker and attacked him multiple times, including pulling a gun and pointing it at Baker’s head. The witness said Baker did not immediately stab Martin and that the stabbing occurred only after repeated attacks on Baker.
What was at stake
Prosecutors urged the jury to view the evidence as showing an unprovoked attack by Baker. The defense argued that the context — including alleged prior attacks on Baker inside the unit — was critical to whether his actions were justified as self-defense. Ultimately the jury did not accept the attempted murder charge but did hold Baker criminally responsible for serious assault and weapons offenses.
The verdict leaves open sentencing and any post-trial motions; the court record in the published report did not include a sentence. The guilty findings on weapons and aggravated assault carry potential prison exposure under South Carolina law, and defense attorneys may pursue appeals or other remedies available after conviction.
For Charleston residents, the case highlights issues that frequently surface in local criminal proceedings: contested self-defense claims, witness credibility, and questions about access and use of weapons in domestic or residential disputes. The incident originally occurred in February 2022 and moved to trial in September 2026.
Local authorities and court officials have not released additional information beyond trial testimony and jury findings reported publicly. Any future developments — sentencing, appeals or further filings — will be matters for the Charleston County court system and will be monitored by local media and legal observers.
