Judge Schedules Preliminary Hearing for Murder Case

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On July 28, a DC Superior Court judge scheduled a hearing to determine if a murder case has enough evidence to go to trial.

D’Aundrey Scott, 27, is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly starting a fire that killed 62-year-old Darryl Finney on May 13, 2020, on the 900 block of H Street, NE. 

Around 12:36 a.m., Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to the 900 block of H Street, NE for the report of a fire. According to court documents, officers used camera footage from the scene and observed a person alleged to be the defendant producing “what appears to be a gas can” and igniting some paper before fleeing on foot.

Finney was admitted to a local hospital but died three days later.  

Roderick Thompson, Scott’s attorney, requested a preliminary hearing. Judge Milton Lee scheduled one for Sept. 9. 

A preliminary hearing was previously set to take place in February, but it was rescheduled in light of new evidence, D.C. Witness previously reported. A judge then set a March date for the preliminary hearing, but that fell through as well.