Judge Sets Preliminary Hearing for Man Accused of Beating 76-Year-Old to Death

By D.C. Witness Staff - December 13, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a hearing to determine if a case where the defendant is accused of beating a 76-year-old man to death has enough evidence to go to trial.

Clifton Browne is charged with second-degree murder in Luther Brooks‘ homicide. Browne, 57, allegedly beat Brooks to death on Sept. 27. 

Police responded to Brooks’ home on the 1300 block of Kalmia Road, NW, that day for the report of an injured person. Upon arrival, they found him on a stretcher being taken to the hospital by emergency medical personnel. He was said to have sustained injuries from an alleged fall down the stairs. His head was wounded and he had multiple rib fractures, according to court documents.

Brooks died on Oct. 8, one week after the Metropolitan Police Department’s homicide branch began investigating the incident due to the seriousness of his injuries.

The doctor who performed Brooks’ autopsy noted that his injuries were too severe to be caused by a fall down the stairs, according to court documents. 

Browne was arrested on Dec. 6. He is currently being held at DC Jail.

Judge Juliet McKenna scheduled the preliminary hearing for Feb. 15 during the Dec. 13 hearing.