Defense Attorneys Question Validity Of GPS Expert

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On Oct. 12, defense attorneys questioned the validity of a GPS tracking expert the prosecution summoned to establish a homicide defendant’s guilt.

Derek Turner, 31, and his co-defendant Ronnika Jennings, 44, are charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and conspiracy in connection with the shooting of 28-year-old Andrew McPhatter on March 5, 2017, on the 3500 block of Wheeler Road SE. Jennings is specifically accused of sharing information with Turner during her time working as a clerk for the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

The third co-defendant Duan Hill, 33, is charged with conspiracy and obstruction of justice.

Turner is also charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 23-year-old Devin Hall on Jan. 7, 2017, on the 3500 block of 6th Street, SE.

One witness, an expert in GPS tracking verified Turner’s GPS signal through his ankle worn monitor. The verotracks or blue tag monitor received satellites in the sky providing position and time accuracy on a map. It appears as a dot for one minute in time for the latitude and longitude.

The prosecution showed a spreadsheet containing Turner’s tracking ID number, first and last name, serial number for the GPS monitor, longitude and latitude, battery percentage, satellite in view, and more.

The device number was placed in front of a place called the “Wheeler Market” on Nov. 23.

The prosecution noted that even though Turner’s GPS monitor placed him at home from Dec. 1-13, surveillance footages places him at Wheeler Market. The expert said this fit caught his eye.

Wheeler Market is within walking distance of where McPhatter and Hall were killed.

Despite the witness’s declared expertise, the defense questioned his validity in providing GPS location information because he hasn’t obtained a bachelor’s degree or post-secondary education in GPS tracking.

An investigator from the Narcotics Enforcement Unit was also called to verify a body-worn camera video.

The footage showed a car that was located in the back of a parking lot. The car was backed in and parked on the curb. The back left door appeared to have bullet holes through the window, the investigator said.

The investigator said he was receiving medical supplies to give aid to a man found in the car who was suffering from apparent gunshot wounds to the chest. The officer said, “stay with me” later followed “keep breathing” as he used shears to cut off the victim’s clothes and adhere medical chest pads. The victim was pulled out of the car and given CPR until the paramedics arrived.

According to a deceptive, obituaries found in the car led to funeral books with names from a MPD suspect list, including Turner and his associates.

DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo said the book was “not an utterance, this is a writing.” It is wrong to assume they were actually present without them being verified by someone. Family members could have easily written their names, she said.

A 911 caller, who reported the shooting, identified an apparent shooter outside of the vehicle after she heard gunshots. The caller said the shooter got into a white Lexus with paper tags.

At a Sept. 27 hearing, it became apparent that Turner owned a white Lexus with paper tags.

The car was involved was shot at while Turner was visiting with his probation officer.

When the car was searched, police found a black mask, blue jacket, a pistol with a loaded magazine, a bullet casing and target practice posters used at gun ranges.

The trial was scheduled to resume on Oct. 13.