Defense Files for Mistrial in Double Homicide Case

By Adriana Marroquin - May 10, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On May 9, defense attorneys for murder suspect Alphonso Walker filed for a mistrial alleging  misconduct after prosecutors elicited a potentially prejudicial statement from a witness.

Walker, 45, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection to the deaths of Dalonte Wilson, 23, and Antone Brown, 44, on the 400 block of 61st Street, NE on April 25, 2018. 

The prosecution said the witness built a relationship with Walker in the years leading up to the double homicide. She  is currently at DC Jail under a probation hold because of alleged parole violations as well as being a material witness after her refusal to accept the subpoenas for this case. 

According to the witness, she and Walker used to meet up two to three times a week to engage in sexual acts. She also said she knew both victims for a long time, as they helped her when she struggled with addiction and homelessness since she was 14. 

She testified to the court that, on the night of the homicide, she received a phone call from a friend stating “Your date killed BeyBey and Minimoe,” which are nicknames for the victims . 

Prescott Loveland and Kevann Gardner, defense attorneys for Walker, motioned for a mistrial because they say prosecutors intentionally elicited a statement from the witness insinuating that Walker was the one who shot both individuals based on hear say.

Loveland argued that the prosecutors may be trying to cause a mistrial because they are worried about the effectiveness of their witnesses’ testimony.

The defense said if a mistrial is not granted, they want a jury instruction that statements they heard from the witness are false statements, the conversation she mentioned never occurred, and that the government intended this to happen by coaching the witness before she took the stand, leading her to state that the defendant committed the crime. 

The prosecutors argued that giving that type of instruction to the jury would be lying to them, and that it is the court’s job to ensure that the jury has the facts to this case at their disposal. 

DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt stated she would not be giving that type of instruction, but rather gave the parties the day to find case law that supports their arguments as to how to move forward. 

Ultimately, the judge declared a mistrial in the case and asked both parties to attend a conference on May 12 at 10 a.m. to discuss next steps.