Closing Statements Delivered in Homicide Trial

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On Jan. 30, witness testimony and closing arguments were presented in a homicide trial before DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein.

Elhadji Ndiaye, 24, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, robbery while armed, tampering with physical evidence, destruction of property, and obstruction of justice for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Travis Ruth. The incident occurred on Jan. 18, 2019 at the 2700 block of Jasper Street, NE.

The defense called the last witness, a detective from the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) homicide unit. The witness testified that moments before Ruth’s fatal shooting, an eyewitness contacted an unidentified individual trying to buy pills.

Nikki Lotze, Ndiaye’s defense attorney, suggested two eyewitnesses, friends of the defendant and the decedent, worked together to kill Ruth.

Lotze said the two moved the victim out of a green Honda Accord and relocated the car in a neighboring alley.

The prosecution said that the timing does not support this view, rather that it would make more sense if Ndiaye had committed the crime since the car was recovered by police near the defendant’s home.

During the prosecution’s closing argument, they claimed that the close relationship between Ruth and the other individuals involved and the location where the car was found proves beyond a reasonable doubt that Ndiaye was responsible for Ruth’s death.

The defense cited the lack of forensic evidence and that nothing that places Ndiaye at the crime scene. Further, the police and prosecutors failed to fully investigate the matter–all of which attest to Ndiaye’s innocence.

Both parties rested their case and jury deliberations are set to begin on Jan. 31.