Jury Begins Deliberating in Murder Trial

By Blair McLendon [former] - November 15, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A jury began deliberations in a murder trial after parties delivered their closing arguments on Nov. 10.

Steven Robin, 25, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence in the Jan. 20, 2018 shooting of 20-year-old Kenneth Poindexter on the 4700 block of Benning Road, SE.

Antonio McKenzie and Edward Brown are also charged with murder in Poindexter’s death, but they will they tried separately from Robin. Charles Young has also pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact voluntary manslaughter for his role as the getaway driver. He was recently sentenced to four years in prison, all of which were suspended, plus six months of probation, D.C. Witness previously reported.

DC Superior Court Judge Dayna Dayson told the jury to examine the evidence presented by both parties to conclude if Robin was the person who committed the crime, had an intentional plan to kill and was in possession of a firearm at the time.

The prosecution argues that the victim was standing on the street when the defendant and three others drove to where Poindexter was, got out of the car and immediately began shooting. A total of 42 shots were fired, but the prosecution alleges Robin sought to “finish him off” before leaving the scene.

A witness said she saw the shooting happen from her balcony and another witness reported the car’s license plate as it drove by a few blocks later following the sound of gunshots, which the police later determined to have come from one of the shooters, the prosecution explained.

Two other witnesses who previously testified during the trial were mentioned as having reported to the police their accounts of the story. Both witnesses were not at the scene of the crime but reportedly heard what happened from the defendant.

The credibility of these witnesses was addressed, with the prosecution noting that these witnesses were known to lie in the past but the prosecution said they have since corrected their testimonies.

Defense attorney Kristin McGough argued that there is not enough evidence to distinguish that Robin himself committed the crime versus someone else.

Both witnesses who weren’t at the scene, McGough pointed out, have consistently lied because there was an incentive to tell the story so that the defendant was accused in hopes of a cash reward or freedom from another case they are a part of.

While Robin’s DNA was found on a water bottle in the car from the crime, McGough said there is no proof that the water bottle was in the car from the day of the shooting. McGough added that no cell phone data for Robin was displayed during the trial as a means to trace his locations on the date of the crime, nor is there evidence that he even had a firearm.

Parties now await a decision from the jury.