Acquitted: ‘We Are at the Doorstep of a Wrongful Conviction,’ Says Defense Attorney in Homicide Trial

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Editor’s note: On May 30, a jury acquitted Devonte Brothers of all charges connected to the homicide of Deron Leake. Brothers is still being held on homicide charges in another case.

Parties delivered closing arguments in a homicide trial before a jury in DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein’s courtroom on May 29.

Devonte Brothers, 29, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a prior convict, for his alleged involvement in the murder of 27-year-old Deron Leake, also known as “Snoop.” The incident occurred on Oct. 17, 2019, at the Cascade Apartment Complex on the 4200 block of 6th Street, SE. One other individual sustained non-life threatening injuries.

Throughout the two-week trial, prosecutors claimed that the shooting stemmed from a disagreement regarding Leake “dapping up” Brothers without knowing him. Dapping is also known as a friendly handshake.

“This is a case about a man that felt disrespected… when Deron had the audacity to dap up the defendant just like he had everyone in that hallway,” insisted a prosecutor during closing arguments.

Throughout the trial, prosecutors called on three of Leake’s best friends who testified they were with him at the time of his murder, and belonged to an organization they named “Blood Brothers.”

According to the prosecutors and Leake’s friends, on the day of the incident, the group had visited one of the friends’ old neighborhoods, where they drank and smoked weed, before heading to the Cascade Apartment Complex, where Leake grew up.

There, prosecutors claimed, the group spent ten minutes before shots were fired.

“Deron died instantly, and you don’t shoot someone in the head unless you intend to kill them,” the prosecutor insisted, claiming that Brothers had sufficient time to deliberate and premeditated his actions.

One of Leake’s friends, the prosecution claimed, was able to identify Brothers as the shooter months after the homicide. In footage from the interrogation room at the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), the witness is heard telling detectives that Brothers was “the person talking to Snoop and killed him over a handshake.”

“I was really thinking should I do this – but then I started thinking about Snoop mother, so I just – I picked it truthfully and honestly,” said the witness during his testimony.

Prosecutors claimed Brothers “had just enough time to walk around the apartment complex and avoid the police,” after shots were fired.

However, Dominique Winters, Brothers’ defense attorney, claimed that what the prosecution is requesting the jury to do, which is to convict Brothers, is “terrifying… we shouldn’t be willing to risk wrongful convictions.”

“Brothers is innocent,” Winters insisted, adding “There are tons of reasons to doubt in this case.”

Winters argued that the only individual who had been able to identify Brothers as the shooter was unable to do so in court.

“When you don’t have actual evidence that he’s the shooter, you turn to things like these,” Winters stated, citing the multiple images and videos that the prosecution provided, which depicted Brothers smoking and drinking at the Cascade Apartment Complex.

According to Winters, there was a sheer lack of investigation, stating “The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) failed to investigate this.”

Winters insisted the prosecution failed to subpoena the lead detective because he failed to ensure MPD acquired significant footage from a house that could have depicted the shooting.

“You should be angry and frustrated,” Winters told the jury when alleging that MPD failed to properly investigate the crime, adding “The investigation alone is the reason you should be out here in no time with an acquittal.”

“You have an obligation to return a verdict of not guilty,” Winters insisted, before crying “We are at the doorstep of a wrongful conviction.”

“Brothers’ fate lies on you guys… there’s only one fair and just verdict in this case,” she ended.

“This is not a soap opera, this is a homicide case,” said the prosecutor.

According to the prosecutor, when Leake’s friend testified and was unable to identify the shooter in court he stated being a snitch “is a death sentence.”

“Devonte Brothers is not the unluckiest man in the world,” insisted the prosecutor, adding “He sent a message to Deron Leake, his friends, and anyone, to not approach him.”

“It’s now time to send a message to Mr. Brothers,” claimed the prosecutor, asking the jury to convict him of all charges.

Parties are slated to return when the jury concludes deliberations.