Andre Becton offered a plea deal

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Andre Becton pled not guilty in court Thursday morning, but the prosecution offered a new plea deal.

Becton is charged with first-degree murder while armed for the murder of Darnell Peoples, who died from a shooting in September of 2016 in the 600 block of Mellon St., SE.

The defense entered a plea of not guilty and requested a speedy trial from the court Thursday morning. However, when Judge Lynn Leibovitz asked if a jury trial date should be set, the prosecution asked that Becton consider a plea offer before moving on with a trial. The plea offer expires August 3, and the prosecution requested that the court reconvene August 4 to hear the defense’s decision and discuss new evidence in the case.

Judge Leibovitz and the defense agreed to reappear in court on August 4.