Witness Identifies Murder Defendant as Stabbing Assailant

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During a jury trial Nov. 18, the only eyewitness to a stabbing claimed that a murder defendant was the perpetrator and not him. Leonard Smith is charged with second-degree murder for allegedly stabbing Leonte Butler, 26, on the 4000 block of South Capitol Street, SE in 2017. During the eyewitness testimony, which continued from last week, he said he watched Smith stab Butler. The witness told the jury that he did not commit the crime like the defense says. The witness testified that Smith stabbed Butler because Butler hit Smith in the mouth causing him to bleed. Defense attorney, Anthony Matthews, played a recorded video of Smith and the witness slap boxing the night of the murder. The time of day when the video was taken was not told in court and the witnesses testified that he did not even remember the video being taken. The witness also said that all three parties were drinking and high that night from a cocktail of drugs. Matthews also questioned the witness about his testimony being influenced by the reward money. During an interview with Metropolitan Police Department detectives, the interview inquired about the reward. The witness said he was just saying he would like to have that amount of money not that he was, “trying to cooperate for the money.” He also said he believed and still believes the police may be considering him as a suspect for the murder but admitted he lied to the police during his first interview because he “wanted no parts of any of this.” DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson dismissed the jury for the day and required both the defense and prosecution to return to court later in the day to discuss a matter that was not talked about in open court. Trial is scheduled to resume on Nov. 19. Follow this case