Defense Requests Earlier Trial Date for 2017 Homicide

By D.C. Witness Staff - January 17, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Uncategorized | Victims |

During a felony status conference on Jan. 17, DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz granted another hearing for Jordan Smith. 

Jordan Smith, 32, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and two firearm offenses for his alleged role in the shooting of Yashika Green, 42, on the 200 block of Wayne Place, SE in 2017. 

According to defense attorneys, Mani Golzari and Sylvia Roberta J. Smith, the purpose of the hearing was to ensure that Smith, who was released in November of 2019, was in compliance with his high intensity supervised program (HISP) release conditions. The attorneys also wanted to set an earlier trial date. 

In November 2019, attorneys were close to going to trial. However, due to some complications on the defense side, they were not able to proceed. Therefore, the trial was postponed to July 12, 2021. 

According to the defense, a disclosure should have been made when Smith was released, however it was not.

DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz wanted Smith to return to court in 30 days in order to resolve any issues and for the attorneys to find an earlier trial date. Attorneys said they expect the trial to last around two weeks. 

A hearing where Smith will decide if he wants to independently test DNA material is scheduled to occur on Feb. 28.