Defense Builds Third Party Perpetrator Case

By D.C. Witness Staff - October 1, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

During an ex-parte hearing, defense counsel said another person committed a murder, exonerating his client.

Chad Everette Hawthorne is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the death of 35-year-old Antonio Bassett on the 3900 block of Pennsylvania Ave., SE on May 22, 2017.

The hearing was held after Hawthorne, 38,  filed a motion on Sept. 26 to advance a third party perpetrator defense. To-date, Hawthorne has filed 26 motions on his own behalf.

Defense counsel Steven Kiersh approached the bench to show DC Superior Court Judge Juliet McKenna that someone else killed Bassett in 2017.

Kiersh said there was a witness that could corroborate his defense. Kiersh did not give more details in open court.

Trial was expected to begin on Oct. 15. But, Kiersh said he made a significant discovery about one of the prosecution’s witnesses that may lead to a continuation. Kiersh did not give any more detail about his discovery in open court.

Judge McKenna said the only way this defense’s theory would be denied would be if the person of interest was in jail or the hospital at the time of the murder.

A status hearing is set on Oct. 3 to address Kiersh’s issues with the prosecution’s witness.