Defendant to Testify in Co-defendant’s Murder Trial

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

A DC Superior Court judge separated the cases of two co-defendants on trial for murder because both defendant wanted to testify on the other’s behalf.  

Cinquan Cartledge and Marquette Tibbs are charged with first-degree murder while armed for their alleged role in the death of Orlando Silver III on the 1300 block of Howard Road, SE on Nov. 27, 2016. A medical examiner determined Silver’s cause of death to be a gunshot wound to the back.

During a motions hearing March 19, defense attorney Carol Blume said Cartledge, 24, wanted to separate his trial from Tibbs, 26, so he could be a witness in Tibbs’ trial. Blume said Cartledge wanted to prove his friend’s innocence.

If Tibbs, wanted to do the same, Judge Todd Edelman said he would have to give up his right against self-incrimination in order to testify for Cartledge.

Tibbs said he would testify for Cartledge even if he was found guilty during his trial. Judge Edelman said he would schedule Tibbs’ trial before Cartledge’s, which would allow Tibbs to reserve his right to testify in his own trial.

D.C. Witness previously reported that Judge Edelman denied a severance motion in February after Cartledge was deemed mentally competent to stand trial.

According to court documents, Tibbs and Cartledge were wearing GPS ankle monitors that placed them near the scene of Silver’s murder. Two witnesses identified Tibbs as the shooter shortly after witnessing the incident.

A police officer said he saw Tibbs throw a loaded pistol, which prosecutors believe to be the same gun used in Silver’s murder.

A trial readiness hearing for Tibbs is scheduled on April 11. His trial is slated to be held on May 6.