Court Archives - D.C. Witness

Jury Acquits Woman of Shooting Ex-Girlfriend’s Former Lover

By Adriana Marroquin - May 12, 2025
Court | Daily Stories | Shooting | Suspects |

Details A jury in DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson’s courtroom acquitted a defendant of a shooting in a complex domestice dispute on May 2. Tyshay Moore, 27, is charged with... Read More

Tempers Flare Between Opposing Lawyers After Murder Mistrial

Details DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt admonished argumentative attorneys and obstreperous defendants after a jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict in a homicide case on May 7. Demonte Gibson,... Read More

Jury Convicts Defendant of Killing Co-Worker

Details A jury in DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park’s courtroom convicted a homicide defendant of all charges on May 5. Ranje Reynolds, 28, was charged with first-degree murder while armed... Read More

Eyewitness Describes Murder Victim’s Futile Plea for Help

Details The trial in a fatal shooting case continued on May 7 before DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park with a witness recounting how the bloody victim pleaded for help. Naquel... Read More

Homicide Juror Dismissed For Fear of Retaliation

Details A juror communicated concern to DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz‘s chambers about potential retaliation if murder and mass shooting defendants are found guilty. The issue came up during a... Read More

Attorneys in a 2016 Murder Case Will File to Dismiss Based on Lack of Prosecution

Details DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz ordered a 2016 homicide defendant be released from St. Elizabeths hospital during a hearing on May 2, and his attorney says the case should... Read More

Independent Counsel to Advise Murder Defendant at Sentencing

Details DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz ruled that an independent counsel be appointed to advise a murder defendant in what was supposed to be a sentencing hearing on May 2.... Read More

Defiant Defendant Delays Shooting Case

By Becca Parnass - May 8, 2025
Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting |

Details DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park alerted parties in a shooting case that the defendant was returned to the DC Jail on May 7, after he refused to go along... Read More

Shooting Defendant Accepts Plea Deal, Following Mistrial

By Adriana Marroquin - May 8, 2025
Court | Daily Stories | Shooting | Suspects |

Details A shooting defendant, who was granted a mistrial after a jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict, accepted a plea deal before DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe on May... Read More

Plea Offer Would Wipe Out Most of 57 Counts Against Shooting, Robbery Suspect

Details Prosecutors offered to drop virtually every charge against 19-year-old Rodney Bennett in return for a plea deal that would virtually eliminate a 57-count indictment against the shooting and robbery suspect.... Read More

Murder Co-Defendants Plead Not Guilty at Arraignment

Details Two murder co-defendants pleaded not guilty to all indictment charges before DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson on May 2. Eric Sheffield, 20, and D’Andre Montgomery, 19, are charged with... Read More

Homicide Victim’s Wife Calls Stabbing Defendant ‘Malicious and Wild,’ Still Released to Home Confinement

Details DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan released a fatal stabbing defendant to home confinement, despite the victim’s family opposing it, during a hearing on May 2. Vanessa Bonaparte, 32, is... Read More