Convicted Killer Tries to Overturn His Sentence

Thank you for reading D.C. Witness. Help us continue our mission into 2024.

Convicted killer Merle V. Watson told DC Superior Court Judge Anita Josey-Herring he is frustrated his efforts to win vindication have stalled.

Watson addressed the April 10 proceeding on a video feed from a high security federal prison in Hazelton, West Virginia. “I can’t get anything done here,” Watson said, indicating he wants to be transferred to another facility.

Watson’s latest attorney, Albert Amissah, told D.C. Witness that Watson appeared remotely because he’s considered “too dangerous” to hold in the DC jail.

According to a Department of Justice release, Watson, 63, and co-defendants Keith Logan and Paul Ashby were found guilty in August 2013 of first-degree murder while armed, with aggravating circumstances, conspiracy, kidnapping while armed, armed robbery, and weapons offenses.

Watson, Logan, and Ashby allegedly conspired to kidnap and rob Carnell Bolden, 36 on Dec. 30, 2009, near W Street NW As the incident unfolded Bolden was beaten and shot to death while his girlfriend was shot four times to prevent her from becoming a witness to the crime. She survived the attack.

Logan, 60, was sentenced to life without parole. Ashby, also 60, received a 90-year term in the case. Watson, according to a court filing, was sentenced to 73-years in jail with a minimum of 33-years and five years supervised release.

Watson appealed the conviction and four of the charges against him were vacated in 2022 without affecting his overall sentence. Watson has argued that his constitutional rights were violated during the prosecution.

During the hearing Judge Josey-Herring noted Watson has used a number of attorneys throughout his litigation and that his case had been “in the system a long time.”

Amissah says he will need some time to review the substantial volume of records in the case.

Judge Josey-Herring set the next hearing in the case for Aug. 17.

Notifications are not yet available for this specific case. Please check back later for updates. Thank you.