Defense Asks for Identity of Key Witness in Murder Case

By D.C. Witness Staff - September 11, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

Defense counsel asked the prosecution to unvail the identity of a key witness in a murder.  

Delonta Daniel is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Bernard Jarvis on the 2400 block of 14th Street, NE on June 28. Jarvis died on the scene. 

Kristin McGough, Daniel’s defense attorney, said she has been waiting nearly a month for the prosecution to send her the information. McGough said she filed a motion for the information in July.

The defense insisted on a timely release of the name of the witness due to the fact that Daniel was being held in jail. A protective order, restricting McGough from sharing the witness’s information with the defendant or any one else on her team, was granted in July. 

Apparently, the witness told the police that the shooter was another individual completely unrelated to Daniel. The witness never gave the police Daniel’s name, either. 

D.C. Witness previously reported that the same witness told a Metropolitan Police Department detective that the suspect was a heavy-set black man. 

DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson said the identity of the witness is central to the trial. However, she added that she understands, due to the dangerous nature of releasing a witness’s identity, the prosecution’s decision to hand it over can take longer. 

Judge Dayson ruled that the prosecution should present a decision to the defense within the next two weeks. 

A felony status conference is scheduled on Sept. 25.