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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- January 27, 2020
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A judge continued a trial readiness hearing to allow parties to agree on which jail calls to use during trial. Together, the calls span more than four hours.
Raymond Avent, 20, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 23-year-old Rafiq Hawkins on March 23, 2019, on the 1200 block of Brentwood Road, NE.
During the hearing on Jan. 27, the defense and prosecution agreed to identify portions of the calls that were relevant to their respective cases. A substantial number of calls were disputed. A prosecutor on the case said she wants to play the full four and half hours for the jury.
She said it would be necessary in painting a picture for the jurors.
Defense attorney, Leonard L. Long Jr., said he was unwilling to allow the prosecution to play all of the recordings because the entire span of calls were not relevant.
DC Superior Court Judge Anita Josey-Herring said that it would be easier for the parties to come back once their issues were resolved.
Another felony status conference is scheduled to occur on Jan.31.
This article was written by Jailynn Caraballo and Lea Gianasso.