Defendant Accepts Last Minute Plea Offer in Murder Case

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On Oct. 3, a defendant decided to waive his right to a jury trial and accepted a plea offer on the morning his homicide trial was scheduled to begin.

Niko Hall, 31, is one of three co-defendants charged in relation to the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Anthony Lee.

The incident occurred on the 2900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE, on Sept. 26, 2020. Hall was charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession with a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business while armed.

The prosecution previously offered Hall the option to plead down to second-degree murder while armed with a sentence of twelve-to-fourteen years in prison. Hall rejected that deal during a hearing on Sept. 26.

Hall’s co-defendants, 21-year-old Kyrie Wells and 20-year-old Darquise Montgomery previously accepted plea offers that reduced their first-degree murder charges to second-degree murder while armed dismissing all other counts.

After the parties had negotiated, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt said, “parties have reached a disposition” and confirmed the trial would not continue.

Hall accepted an offer that required him to plead guilty to second-degree murder while armed in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges. He faces a fourteen-to-nineteen year sentence. Hall will also be required to register as a gun offender.

The prosecution called Hall’s involvement in the shooting, “voluntary, and intentional” and said, “The defendant aided and abetted his co-conspirators.”

Hall accepted the plea offer and took responsibility for his involvement in the incident.

Judge Brandt said to Hall, “You just stepped up and did a brave thing,” before accepting Hall’s guilty plea.

The sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 27.

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