Jury Begins Deliberations in Haltiwanger Murder Trial

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The jury in the Shaka Haltiwanger murder trial couldn’t reach a verdict after its first day of deliberations March 21.

Haltiwanger, 23, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence while armed, possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device while armed, and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business. 

However, the jurors did ask DC Superior Court Rainey Brandt if they could watch police videos of conversations with a key witness in the case.  Some of the material was presented during the trial.

Haltiwanger is accused of killing Anthony Kelly on Sept. 10, 2021, on the 1400 block of 29th Street, SE. He says his actions were in self-defense.  

After discussions with the defense and the prosecution lawyers, Judge Brandt denied the request, saying, “The jury must rely on recollections of what they saw and heard at the trial.”  

Deliberations are scheduled to reconvene tomorrow at 9:30 am.