By: Brendan Kearney

Humor can be hard to come by in a federal witness murder trial in which one of the defendants faces the death penalty.

But this week in Baltimore, the judge and lawyers in the case of Patrick A. Byers Jr., charged with ordering the killing of Carl S. Lackl Jr., and Frank K. Goodman, who allegedly paid a Bloods gang member to do Byers’ bidding, have seized upon scarce opportunities for comic relief.

Just before trial began on Monday afternoon, William B. Purpura, one of Byers’ defense attorneys, walked over to members of the U.S. Attorney’s office who had come to watch their colleague’s opening statement.

“It’s not too late to give up,” he said with a grin.

On Wednesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney John F. Purcell Jr. apologized to the jury for fiddling with his BlackBerry, explaining that he was arranging for the attendance of witnesses, not checking MySpace.

“You’re not on Facebook, Mr. Purcell?” U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett asked from the bench.

The balding veteran prosecutor paused, then rejoined, “Not with this kind of face, no.”