Counsel Discuss Cooperating Witness’s Death in Murder Trial

By D.C. Witness Staff - May 20, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

In preparation for a murder trial, the defense and prosecution discussed May 20 what to tell a jury about a cooperating witness who was killed.

Kenneth Bellamy, 35, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and two gun-related offenses for his alleged role in the death of 23-year-old Michael Tyrone Jones on the 300 block of East Capital Street, SE in 2015.

D.C. Witness could not verify the cooperating witness’s name or the circumstances surrounding his death.

According to the prosecution, the witness was Jones’ bestfriend and was present at the shooting. The prosecutor said she planned to call the witness to testify. She also said the witness was cooperating in another case in addition to Bellamy’s case. It’s unclear if the other case is related to Bellamy’s case.

Bellamy’s defense attorney, Jon Norris, said counsel should read a stipulation, saying that the witness would not be testifying because he is dead. Norris said the stipulation should note that the witness’s death was “unrelated” to the case.

However, the prosecutor said that stipulation wouldn’t be “exactly true.” The prosecutor did not explain the context of her statement.

Ultimately, counsel said they would continue to work on the wording of the stipulation.

DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman said jury selection is scheduled occur on May 20. A motions hearing is slated to occur on May 21. Judge Edelman said counsel is expected to begin opening arguments on May 22.