Defendant Waives Right To New Counsel

By D.C. Witness Staff - March 27, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

With nearly two weeks until a murder defendant’s trial begins, he chose to waive his right to new counsel amid a potential conflict of interest.

William Edward Smith is charged with second-degree murder while armed and carrying a dangerous weapon for his alleged role in the stabbing death of 29-year-old Dominic Brooks on the 800 block of Chesapeake Street, SE in 2017.

“I’ll stick with the attorneys I got,” Smith, 34, said. He is scheduled to go to trial on April 8.

The prosecution notified the court March 27 that the Public Defender Service represented the victim in two previous cases in 2015. According to DC Courts, the cases were for drug possession and bail reform act offenses.

DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson accepted Smith’s waiver after defense attorney Jason Tulley said the attorney who represented Brooks had no contact with Smith’s case.

During the hearing, the prosecution also said Smith rejected their plea offer. Apparently, the prosecution offered to downgrade Smith’s charges to voluntary manslaughter while armed. The prosecutor said they rejected the defense’s counter offer for negligent homicide.

According to court documents, a witness, who was in a relationship with Brooks, said Smith and another individual named Lou ran into Brooks and the witness when they were walking away from a birthday party.  The witness said an argument turned into a physical altercation between Smith and Brooks.