Judge Continues Ruling in Murder Defendant’s Preliminary Hearing

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During a preliminary hearing Sept. 5, a judge decided to rule the next day after having heard arguments from counsel.

Keandre Barber, a resident of Suitland, Md., is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 29 year-old Juan Marcell Grant. The shooting occurred on the 700 block of Princeton Place, NW on June 19.

DC Superior Court Judge Danya A. Dayson decided to on the case on Sept. 6, saying she wanted to be sure she had enough time to consider all the arguments made.

Defense attorney Mani Golzari said the prosecution does not have probable cause to hold Barber.

Golzari said Grant was walking down an alley with Barber and another person. Golzari argued the other person could have killed Grant.

Golzari also said the prosecution does not have video recordings of the alley itself and many of its entrances, meaning a fourth person could have entered the alley and killed Grant.

The prosecution argued that Barber, Grant and the other person are briefly recorded together in the alley. Also, the other person was on GPS surveillance at the time and was registered as being further from Grant than Barber.

Golzari said the GPS device only has a radius of certainty of 50 feet, meaning the other person could have been in the same vicinity when the shots were fired.