Opening Statements Presented and First Witnesses Testify in Hit-and-Run Case

By Aubree Tomasetti [former] - October 2, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Traffic | Victims |

On Oct. 2, parties delivered opening statements and witnesses were called before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan in a hit-and-run homicide case.

Eric Beasley, 32, is charged with first-degree murder for his alleged involvement in a hit-and-run that resulted in the death of 45-year-old David Farewell while he was riding his bicycle. The incident occurred on Sept. 4, 2020 on the 2100 block of Young Street, SE. 

In opening statements, the prosecution played an audio clip of a car hitting the bicycle Farewell was riding, and stated, “That is the sound of first-degree murder.” 

The presentation included an eyewitness’ identification of Beasley as the driver of the car that hit Farewell, a gas station surveillance video of Beasley’s appearing to follow Farewell as he walked his bike alongside his girlfriend and a 911 call.

The prosecution’s main focus was surveillance video of an interaction between an individual, who prosecutors identified as Beasley, and Farewell moments before the incident. 

In the video, Farewell can be seen and heard shouting, “Knock it off. That’s not right,”  in response to Beasley allegedly making crude remarks towards Farewell’s girlfriend. Moments later, the video shows Farewell biking through a crosswalk as a car speeds up and runs him over. 

The prosecution told the jury Beasley failed to stay at the scene, and allegedly stated, “No I’m not,” before speeding away from the incident in response to a witness informing him he was going to be in trouble. 

In their opening, the defense stated “Beasley never wanted this accident to happen,” and that he never intended Farewell to die as a result of the dispute.

After opening statements the prosecution called Farewell’s daughter who said after initially hearing the news, “I couldn’t do anything, I just broke down.”

Beasley’s defense attorneys did not cross examine her. 

Prosecutors also called a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer that was one of the first to arrive on scene. 

According to the officer, he was sitting in his patrol car with another officer when a woman approached, telling them someone had been struck by a car.

Seven minutes of the officer’s officer’s body-worn camera footage was shown to the jury including scenes of Farewell lying on the ground unconscious but breathing at the time. 

During cross-examination, defense attorneys emphasized the importance of preserving a scene, while repeatedly asking the officer if he remembered when the accident area was taped off. The witness could not recall, and said many people were already at the scene by the time he arrived. 

The trial is set to resume Oct. 3.