Defense Attorneys Address Prosecution’s Previous Misconduct

By D.C. Witness Staff - April 5, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

On April 5, the  defense requested to schedule another hearing to address the prosecution’s misconduct during a trial that occurred from Jan. 23 to March 6.

Co-defendants Monte Johnson and Jalonte Little are charged with first-degree murder while armed for their roles in the death 22-year-old Deeniquia Dodds, also known as Gregory Dodds, on the 200 block of Division Street, NE in 2016.

Defense attorneys, Brandi Harden and Kevin Irving, requested to schedule a hearing to address the prosecution’s misconduct during Johnson and Little’s previous trial that resulted in a mistrial. The attorneys said they were possibly going to submit motions to dismiss Johnson and Little’s cases.

“[The] misconduct from before needs to be addressed,” said Harden. “It rose to the level of obstruction of justice.”

Apparently, there were concerns that the prosecution attempted to coerce a witness and engaged in jury tampering.

According to Harden, the prosecution made these actions “because they believed the case [against Johnson and Little] was so weak.”

“There has to be a hearing,” said Irving. “Grounds for dismissal is still on the table.”

However, the prosecution said there was no evidence of misconduct.

“The conduct that took place during the course of the trial is troubling,” said DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee.

Johnson and Little have a status hearing scheduled on Aug. 2.

Brothers Cyheme Hall, 23, and Shareem Hall, 25, are also charged for the murder. Shareem is pending a preliminary hearing, and his brother’s case has not been updated on the DC Courts’ website.