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By
Tyler Davis [former]
- December 9, 2024
Daily Stories
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Shooting
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Suspects
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Victims
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A witness testified that he saw a possible murder suspect crouch near a drainpipe and drop something inside in a trial before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on Dec. 9.
Police say they later retrieved a gun from that location thought to be a murder weapon.
Amard Jefferson, 33, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a license and obstructing justice for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Kendall Brown, 30, on August 7, 2021 on the 3000 block of Nelson Place, SE.
The prosecution called an accountant who was near the crime scene around the time of the incident.
He testified that he saw a man, a woman and a child approach the street from between two houses. As the man crouched down, he appeared to drop something into the drainpipe, despite not being able to see what it was.
The witness flagged down a nearby police officer and they recovered the gun.
The prosecution called a former crime scene investigator with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) that helped to process DNA evidence for the case.
He testified that he tested only certain parts of the pistol used in the case – the grips magazine, slide release, magazine release and sights – in order to pull the most DNA. He did not test the entire pistol because it would likely destroy any DNA evidence that was available.
The prosecution called a former forensic analyst at a private DNA lab who testified that he tested several evidence items from the crime scene, and two reference items – DNA samples from Jefferson and Brown.
He said that testing showed that there is a strong likelihood – estimated to be in the quadrillions – that the evidentiary DNA samples are from Jefferson rather than unknown sources.
The witness mentioned a phenomena called drop-in, which can indicate low levels of DNA contamination. He added that the lab software did not detect any signs in the reviewed evidence.
During the defense cross, the witness testified that in order to shed DNA, a person must leave cells behind. He said it’s possible for a person to touch an object but leave no trace of DNA.
He testified that there’s no way to tell when and how the DNA lands on an object, and cannot tell who touched an object first if there are multiple samples of DNA.
The prosecution also called the mother of Jefferson’s girlfriend at the time of the incident. She testified that two days before, she received a call from her daughter, and hearing the voice of a woman who had been living there until she was recently told to leave.
The witness testified that she heard the woman threatening her daughter, and could tell that her daughter was uncomfortable.
Parties are set to reconvene on Dec. 10.