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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- March 4, 2019
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Suspects
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A murder victim’s boyfriend took the stand March 4 and told a jury he and the victim were in an “exclusive” relationship. However, the defense sought to discredit his claim.
El Hadji Toure, 30, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, first-degree sexual abuse and robbery while armed, among other offenses, for his alleged role in the death of 34-year-old Corrina Mehiel on the 600 block of 14th Street, NE in 2017. According to the prosecution, Mehiel was a visiting artist from North Carolina.
“To me, it was the kind of relationship you make plans together,” the boyfriend said describing his relationship with Mehiel and his projections for the future.
The boyfriend said he was with Mehiel the weekend before her death. He said they had their first date in February of 2017, one month before her death.
According to the boyfriend, the two remained in frequent contact via text messages and phone calls. He said when she was home in North Carolina he would visit her three to four times a week.
During cross-examination, the defense noted Mehiel and the boyfriend’s relationship began on Tinder, a dating app. She also said Mehiel was away for work during the majority of their nearly six week relationship.
The boyfriend agreed their relationship was mostly long distance but said their plan was for North Carolina to be their “home base.” He said that even though they didn’t call each other “boyfriend” or “girlfriend,” it was “implied.”
The defense also asked about the knife he carries as a part of his job, working on a farm. He said that it is a Leatherman multi-tool that was equipped with a knife. Apparently, when he was interviewed by detectives, they did not take the tool or examine it.
During the trial, a forensic expert testified about examining Toure’s car, which he allegedly bought with the money he stole from Mehiel’s account.
According to the expert, she found a pocket knife in the driver’s side door. She said the knife’s tip appeared to be broken off. She also said she found Toure’s passport, among other things, in the trunk of the car.
According to the prosecution’s theory, Toure is responsible for binding, sexually assaulting and repeatedly stabbing Mehiel to death. The prosecution says he tortured her and stole her credit cards.
The trial is scheduled to continue on March 5.
Thamar Bailey contributed to this article.