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By
Radhakund Ramnarine
- November 21, 2024
Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Suspects
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Victims
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“There’s nothing I can say or decide that can give back the brother that you lost or the father of your children,” stated DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan on Nov 8, during sentencing of a homicide defendant.
Melvin Conley, 63, is charged with two counts of negligent homicide for his involvement in a fatal car accident that killed Rhonda Whitaker, 55, and Waldon Adams on April 24, 2021, on the 4000 block of Dubois Place, SE.
According to the prosecution, Conley, who had been on dialysis and endured coughing fits that caused him to black out, told police that he had no recollection of hitting the victims and that he “must have blacked out.”
After seeing the damage to his car, he did not report to the police.
Defense attorney Kevin Mosely emphasized that Conley did not mean to hurt anyone. The accident could be attributed to his medical problems and that “people who have these medical issues, who have their license, don’t know that they have to report— it’s not well publicized.”
In his impact to the court, Adams’ brother requested justice stating, “I did not lose my brother, my brother was killed.”
By all accounts, Adams was deeply involved and respected not only by his family, but the homeless community he worked to get off the streets.
“My condolences to the family, I never imagined it to happen…I’m sorry to the family– I blacked out and I didn’t know what happened until the police showed up” said Conley.
For both counts, Conley was sentenced to three years of supervised release with an additional two years probation. He must also surrender his license to the Department of Motor Vehicles and never, under any circumstances, drive again,
“He pled guilty to negligent homicide, not an accident, because he was aware of the effects of his illness on his driving– death was the result of his negligent behavior” stated Judge Raffinan during sentencing.
No further dates have been set.