Judge Dismisses Defendant’s Murder Charges in Homicide Case

By Hunter Fernandez [former] - April 7, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

At a status hearing on April 6, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt dismissed five of six charges without prejudice against a defendant in a homicide case. He is no longer charged, but the charges can be re-filed.

Herman Williams was charged with first-degree murder for his alleged role in the shooting of 33-year-old William Boykin on May 28, 2019, on the 2600 block of Birney Place, SE. Williams, 32, has been held at the DC Jail since his arrest on June 5, 2019.

On March 31, the prosecution filed a motion to dismiss Williams’ charges for first-degree murder, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill while armed, and one of his counts for unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior crime of violence. The prosecution also requested that the charges be dismissed without prejudice.

The motion was filed after the defendant sent a letter to the judge expressing frustration with the lack of a speedy trial, stating that he had yet to see any of the prosecution’s evidence. 

However, the prosecution stated that the motion was not filed in response to the letter

The prosecution also stated that they had disclosed all of their evidence to the defense and that it was the attorneys’ responsibility to share that information with the defendant. 

This confusion was likely due to the fact that Williams’ counsel has changed four times over the course of his case, the prosecutor said. The defendant’s current attorney was not appointed until March 24.

Defense attorney Thomas Key agreed with the motion, stating that the prosecution was dismissing the case as they had no evidence to prove the guilt of his defendant. 

Judge Brandt accepted the prosecution’s motion to dismiss counts one through five and agreed to the defense’s request to sentence Williams for the final charge at the hearing.

Williams was sentenced to time served, which was about four years, and three years on supervised release for his final charge, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior crime of violence. He is also required to register as a gun offender and pay $100 to the victims of violent crime fund. 

Finally, Key requested that the DNA evidence sent to the lab to be tested be returned to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to be preserved for the instance that Williams’ charges are re-filed.

All further hearings scheduled for this case have been vacated.