Defense Requests Change to Protective Order in Murder Case

By D.C. Witness Staff - May 31, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Uncategorized |

On May 31, defense counsel for a murder defendant requested permission to change a protective order that was proposed by the prosecution.

Deangelo Thorne, 29, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 23-year-old Wiliyatou Amadou on the 1400 block of W Street, NW on Jan. 8, 2017.

The defense said they wanted to change the protective order on an “ex-parte” basis, which means that if the defense were to request specific changes, the prosecution would not be notified.

The defense said they wished to change the order without notification because the current protective order makes it nearly impossible to directly access the court without the prosecution’s knowledge. Counsel said there are some circumstances under which the prosecution should not be notified of changes, but did not specify what the circumstances were.

DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman said this was very hypothetical and did not want to make a ruling on it at the time. He said he would consider the issue if the defense actually filed a motion ex-parte.

Defense counsel said a motion would be filed if the defendant needs to be excused from complying with the protective order.

Defense counsel also expects to file a motion to suppress and a motion for statements and tangible evidence. The defense has until June 19 to file the motions. The prosecution has until July 10 to respond to the motions, according to DC Courts. 

According to court documents, officers of the Metropolitan Police Department found Amadou in a hallway of a building suffering from multiple stab wounds. She was pronounced dead at the hospital less than an hour later.

At the time of the murder, Thorne was wearing a GPS monitor for unrelated drug charges. The data from the monitor placed him at the scene when the incident took place.

A trial readiness hearing is scheduled on July 12.