Defendant Waives Right for Presence At Hearing

By D.C. Witness Staff - October 23, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | stabbing | Suspects | Victims |

On Oct. 23, a defendant waived his right to be present for his upcoming preliminary hearing, which will determine if his case has enough evidence to go to trial. 

Rakeem Willis is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed with a sharp object. He is accused of stabbing another inmate at the DC Jail, where he was being held while awaiting trial for murder. 

The preliminary hearing had previously been rescheduled twice because Willis, 28, refused to take a COVID-19 test. 

Judge Neal Kravitz said the court is not currently offering virtual appearances at preliminary hearings for first-degree felony defendants. One preliminary hearing can often take hours to complete and the DC Jail only has two or three facilities to offer virtual hearings. 

If Willis were to appear in person, he would have to go through a quarantine process upon returning to jail. Defense attorney Michael Bruckheim said this was not something his client was willing to do. 

Judge Kravitz explained the purpose of preliminary hearings and the potential consequences of not being present for the event. Willis acknowledged these consequences but still asked for the waiver. 

Judge Kravitz determined that Willis knowingly and voluntarily made the decision to waive his right to appear in person on Monday. 

The preliminary hearing is set to take place on Oct. 26.

Wills is also charged with first-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for allegedly shooting 24-year-old Tyrik Hagood, 26-year-old Javon Abney, and 26-year-old Sean Shuler on Jan. 26, 2019. on the 1500 block of Fort Davis Place, SE.

Maria Marzullo wrote this article.