Judge Considers How to Continue Trial for Murder Defendant

By D.C. Witness Staff - February 15, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

On Feb. 14, a DC Superior Court judge said she would place sanctions on the prosecution in a murder trial because they neglected to hand over evidence about another case that was similar to the homicide.

El Hadji Alpha Madiou Toure, also known as Elie Brown, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and first-degree sexual abuse, among other offenses, for his alleged role in the stabbing death of 34-year-old Corrina Mehiel on the 600 block of 14th Street, NE in 2017. According to court documents, Mehiel’s stab wounds were consistent with torture.

Judge Juliet McKenna said the prosecution failed to disclose evidence about another potential suspect who was involved in a rape case that happened a few weeks prior to Mehiel’s murder. Judge McKenna told the prosecution to hand over any DNA evidence connected to the rape case.

Judge McKenna also said she would either delay the trial to give the defense time to investigate the new information, or allow Toure to test additional evidence that might prove his innocence. Judge McKenna said she would make a decision on how the case would proceed by the next hearing, which is scheduled on Feb. 19.

Apparently, the rape case took place in Kalorama, a neighborhood in the District. Defense attorney Jacqueline Cadman said the Kalorama case and Mehiel’s murder had a lot of “striking” similarities, such as both victims were raped and had their bodies washed.

The prosecution said the information was not disclosed earlier because it was part of an ongoing investigation.