Defense Attorney Requests Emergency Release for Murder Defendant

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Defense attorney Jason Tulley informed DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun of an emergency motion he recently filed for his client to be immediately released from the DC Jail during a June 25 hearing.

Jahi Settles, 23, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly killing 33-year-old Langston Sharps with a firearm. The incident occurred on July 3, 2023, on the 2800 block of Hartford Street, SE.

According to court documents, a witness reported watching Settles and Sharps get into a verbal altercation about money, overhearing that Sharps owed Settles money. The witness then allegedly watched Settles pull out a gun and shoot Sharps.

Sharps had one gunshot to the chest and was found dead when authorities arrived on scene.

At the hearing Tulley stated that he had filed an emergency motion the night before, arguing for Settles’ immediate release from the DC Jail.

“The DC Jail is horrible,” he told Judge Okun but did not elaborate on the conditions at the facility.

According to the written motion, Tulley claimed that the conditions of the DC Jail violate his client’s constitutional right to be protected against cruel and unusual punishment.

Tulley asserted that Settles is in immediate danger and must be released, citing the jail’s “cruel and failing suicide prevention policies,” “inhumane conditions of confinement,” and “lack of proper medical care.”

Judge Okun gave the prosecution at least 14 days to respond to the motion, per their request.

Tulley further requested that Judge Okun reopen the preliminary hearing, stating that new evidence from the autopsy report and new witnesses would “undermine probable cause” for the case.

Judge Okun granted the request.

Parties are scheduled to return Aug. 30.

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