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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- February 22, 2017
Homicides
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Suspects
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During a motions hearing Wednesday, a lead detective who investigated the shooting death of a 16-year-old in 2015 spoke of how he identified the suspect as the alleged shooter.
Derryck Decuir is set to go to trial late next week, for allegedly shooting and killing Malik Mercer. Among other charges, Decuir was indicted on 10 charges related to the murder, including first-degree murder while armed. He has pleaded guilty to all charges.
Manuelle Davell, the lead detective in the Decuir case was called to the witness stand during the hearing and asked how he interrogated the witnesses and the identification of the defendant and his accomplices with four still photos from the Metrobus video. According to police, Decuir was on the bus with his two cousins snickering about a red belt Mercer was wearing. Decuir followed him off the bus, and when the two got off Decuir shot Mercer.
Throughout the day Wednesday, the prosecution and government went back and forth over what should be permitted in trial.
Jail calls between the defendant and the witness speaking in code have become critical to the case, and will be permitted at the trial.
A friend of the defendant present at the time of the murder had a picture on Facebook with a gun in his pocket that looked identical to the murder weapon. A judge ruled that cannot be used in trial, along with any cell phone videos, social media posts, or crime evidence that will force bias against the defendant. However, one video will be permitted showing the two witnesses and the suspect the night before the shooting
According to police, Decuir followed Mercer off the bus near Fort Tauton on June 16, 2015 and then shot and killed him.