Judge Allows Firearms Expert to Testify Under Specific Conditions

By D.C. Witness Staff - August 8, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

During a motions hearing  Aug. 8, a judge limited a firearms expert’s testimony.

Marquette Tibbs, 26, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly killing Orlando Silver, III, 37, on the 1300 block of Howard Road, SE in 2016. Cinquan Cartledge, 24,  is also charged with the first-degree murder while armed. DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman granted a motion to sever the cases.

On Aug. 8, Judge Edelman granted a partial motion for Tibbs’ defense team. His ruling will not allow the prosecution’s firearms expert to link a specific bullet to the alleged murder weapon.

Apparently, an officer told Judge Edelman that Tibbs was caught throwing a .40 caliber Smith and Wesson semi-automatic pistol into the woods, D.C. Witness previously reported.

Judge Edelman said the witness would be able to link the bullet to the class of the same type of gun. Edelman also said the expert could testify on the reliability of the methods used to test bullet markings.

According to court documents, Tibbs’ defense counsel, Jessica Willis, filed a motion to exclude expert firearm testimony in December of 2018.

Neither the defense nor the prosecution argued against the ruling.

Tibbs is scheduled for a felony arraignment on Aug. 23. His trial is scheduled to begin on Nov. 18.

Cartledge is scheduled for a status hearing Dec. 4, 2019. His trial is scheduled on May 4, 2020.