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By
Maren Fagan
- November 12, 2024
Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Suspects
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Victims
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Despite a homicide defendant’s complying with release conditions, DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe declined to modify them in a Nov. 8 hearing.
Ron Wright, 49, is charged with first-degree murder and felony murder for his alleged involvement in the death of 19-year-old Ricardo Burbano at the 100 block of Q Street, NW, on March, 31, 1992.
According to court documents, Burbano had multiple wounds and abrasions on his body, including the recent loss of three teeth and the tip of a middle finger had been “crudely” amputated.
Wright, who currently lives in Florida and is on release with GPS monitor tracking, through his attorneys, requested to change release status to no GPS monitoring because Wright has been in compliance with release conditions.
David Benowitz, one of Wright’s attorneys, said that Wright has “always been cooperative” and that there is no evidence Wright intends to hide. Benowitz also argued that Wright’s work has been impacted by the GPS ankle monitor because his work requires him to be partially submerged in water.
The prosecution argued that Wright’s release conditions are already lenient in considering the case is a homicide, and the prosecutor said releasing with no conditions is “not fair to [Burbano].”
Judge O’Keefe did not change bond conditions because he said that the GPS monitoring is the least restrictive condition in a homicide case.
The hearing was originally meant to determine if Wright wanted to waive his right to independently test DNA evidence, yet the prosecution said they are going to do additional testing–thus, delaying a decision by the defense.
Parties are slated to reconvene Feb. 28.