During a hearing on Feb. 4, DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park ordered the prosecution to turn over audio recordings of witnesses for the defense.
Keith Williams, 24, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, for his alleged involvement in the death of 17-year-old Brendan Ofori on the 300 block of M Street, SW. The incident occurred on May 28, 2023.
According to court documents, Ofori was shot and killed in a Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) train car, and his body was recovered at the Navy Yard Metro Station.
At the status hearing, discovery of evidence issues were raised by the defense in particular that certain transcripts of interviews conducted with witnesses were not useful because of non-verbal responses. The defense was unable to make sense of the inaudible answers and requested the audio be turned over. The prosecution initially withheld the recordings but later agreed, requesting a week to submit the evidence to the defense. Judge Park obliged, making the deadline for turnover Feb. 11.
Jude Park said he had “never had a case where the [prosecution] refuses to turn over [evidence] like this,” calling it “odd.”
Parties are slated to reconvene on Feb. 10.
