Defense in Murder Case Says They Aren’t Ready for March Trial

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A murder defendant’s counsel asked a judge to postpone their client’s March trial due to the large volume of evidence they say they’ve received from the prosecution. 

Malik Holston is accused of shooting 15-year-old Gerald Watson 17 times on Dec. 13, 2018, on the 2900 block of Knox Place, SE. Watson died soon after from his injuries. The 19-year-old defendant was arrested five days later and has remained held at the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services.

Holston was scheduled to go to trial on March 7 on charges of first-degree murder while armed, possessing a firearm during a crime of violence and carrying a pistol without a license. But defense attorneys Matthew Wilson and Sean Sukumar, who were appointed to represent Holston last August, said they wouldn’t be able to go over all the evidence and form a defense strategy by the trial date.

“It’s a 2018 case,” said Judge Rainey Brandt during the Jan. 28 hearing. “I’m ready to go and he’s detained.” 

The prosecutors did not oppose the request after defense counsel confirmed they would not use the trial’s delay as a reason to request their client’s release from custody. Holston also confirmed to Judge Brandt that he was okay with postponing the trial.  

After hearing from the parties, Judge Brandt rescheduled the trial to take place in October.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene for a trial readiness hearing on Feb. 1.

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