Kyle Piunti pleaded not guilty in a homicide case before DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman on June 13.
Piunti, 36, is charged with second-degree murder while armed and three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a vehicular accident that led to the death of 54-year-old Michael Hamlin, on Jan. 3 on I-295 southbound.
During the hearing, the prosecution formally read a four-count indictment against Piunti, including one count of second-degree murder while armed and three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon. The defense requested a trial date be set, and the prosecution noted that they expect the trial to take less than two weeks.
Judge Edelman scheduled the trial to begin on May 18, 2026, at 9:00 a.m, with an Innocence Protection Act (IPA) and status hearing to determine if Piunti wants to waive or exercise his right to DNA testing. The proceeding is set for July 11.
