Defense Challenges Evidence in Homicide Trial

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After nearly a week at trial before DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson, the defense focused March 4 on several gaps in a crime scene forensic scientist’s testimony of the murder scene.

Guy Johnson, 57, is charged with first-degree murder premeditated while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Kriston Robinson on March 25, 2020, on the 1600 block of 19th Street, SE.

The scientist’s explained that she took photographs of the fence that one of the witnesses used to compare the suspects height too. She confirmed that she visited the scene on Feb. 25, 2023, three years after the shooting occurred.

The defense highlighted that the witness admitted that she had never been to the scene before 2023 and thus had no direct knowledge of how tall the fence was at the time of the shooting in March 2020.

The witness also conceded that she could not determine how tall the fence was in 2020, nor could she confirm whether any changes had been made to the area between the shooting and her visit three years later.

Another testimony the defense challenged was from an officer at the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). He said he searched Johnson’s apartment and collected a loaded magazine.

However, the defense emphasized that despite the officer’s thorough search of the apartment, no gun or any other weapon was found by him or any other officer.

Prosecutors also called on a DC Department of Corrections (DoC) monitoring specialist who has access to communications made at the jail from inmates. The witness explained that each inmate has a unique identification number that is tracked when making calls and video chatting.

The prosecutors played several audio clips from Johnson’s jail calls, in which he appeared to discuss his knee. In a previous hearing, Kevin Mosley, Johnson’s defense attorney, indicated Johnson’s significant knee injury and need for a cane, alleging he could not have run from the scene.

Parties are slated to reconvene March 5.