3 Witnesses Speak of Victim’s Wounds, Police Records in Murder Trial

By Azziah Hunter [former] - November 9, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

During a Nov. 8 proceeding, three expert witnesses testified on evidence presented to the jury.

Derek Turner, 31, and Ronnika Jennings, 44, are charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and conspiracy in connection to the shooting of 28-year-old Andrew McPhatter on March 5, 2017, on the 3500 block of Wheeler Road, SE.

The third co-defendant, 33-year-old, Duan Hill, is charged with conspiracy and obstruction of justice in this matter.

Turner is also charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 23-year-old Devin Hall on Jan. 7, 2017, on the 3500 block of 6th Street, SE.

A member of the Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) said all of the evidence she collected including clothes and fingerprints were all double packaged to ensure safety before it was turned over as evidence. 

The prosecution then showed bullets that were retrieved from parts of McPhatter’s body. DFS testified that the bullets shown to the jury came from McPhatter’s right thigh, right hip, and his head. 

Turner’s defense attorney Michael Madden argued that the prosecutor  was not present during the autopsy, and she was just saying the locations of the bullets based on information she received from someone else.

An employee of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) testified to Jennings and Turner’s connections, saying there were phone calls between the two on multiple occasions. There was also evidence that MPD’s record management system reports were consistent with Jennings’ work schedule.

Jennings’ defense attorney Russell Hairston argued that there is no way of knowing what she did with those reports after looking them up. He also argued that the prosecution doesn’t know if someone made a request for the report to be searched.

Madden argued that all he knows about the phone calls are the time, date, and duration. There are no recordings of the conversations, so therefore, no one knows what was said during those phone calls.

Another witness testified that he reviewed cell site location as well as cell records. He stated that phones can be further than we realize when their signal is picked up in a cell tower.

After hearing arguments from both parties, DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo recognized the defense’s witness as an expert.

The next day of the trial is scheduled for Nov. 9.