Defense Motions Likely Delay 2020 Homicide Case

By Aubree Tomasetti [former] - October 31, 2023
Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On Oct. 25, the defense presented a series of complicated motions that all but certainly delayed a 2020 fatal shooting trial before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan. 

Deon Walters, 20, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and attempt to commit robbery while armed, among other charges, for his alleged involvement in the Oct. 1, 2020 death of 42-year-old Arthur Daniels IV. The incident occurred on the 6000 block of 8th Street, NW.

The pending defense motions include a request to dismiss the indictment due to so-called Brady violations meaning the prosecution failed to turn over potentially exonerating evidence.

The defense is also asking the court to suppress GPS tracking data regarding the suspect’s movements, as well as a motion to suppress evidence from the search of Walters’ girlfriend’s home. In addition, the defense is challenging statements Walters made while waiving his rights along with physical evidence collected in the case.

In response prosecutors asked for the Nov. 6 trial date to be moved so the court could resolve the outstanding matters.

Also during the proceeding, a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective finished his account of Walter’s arrest, warrants filed, and evidence uncovered. He acknowledged the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) was actually monitoring Walter’s whereabouts by GPS at the time of the shooting. 

Displaying a draft of a search warrant affidavit, defense attorney Sylvia Smith notes Daniels as saying words to the effect of, “You are going to let him hit me,” suggesting another person could have been at the incident.

The detective testified the statements were recovered from an audio recording but could not recall if he left out that remark in the final version of the warrant. 

Following the detective’s testimony, Smith called an investigative specialist from the DC Public Defenders Service (PDS). The specialist spoke with another MPD detective who wrote a search warrant to track a T-mobile phone number that is allegedly linked to Walters but had no knowledge of the case at that point.

According to the investigator, the detective didn’t speak to witnesses or other law enforcement officers and wasn’t conducting any “on the ground work.”

Meanwhile, Smith alleged the prosecutors were attempting to stall the trial but presuming the outstanding issues are resolved, “We’re ready to go, prosecution should be too.”

Judge Raffinan asked that the prosecution file a motion for continuance effectively delaying the trial date.

Parties are expected to reconvene on Oct. 30 to resume the motions hearing.