Defense Questions Reliability of Defendant’s Cellmate During Murder Trial

By Mara Osterburg [former] , Will Lawrence [former] - July 15, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A murder defendant’s cellmate testified at his trial on July 14.

Nyekemia Everett, 35, and Malik Hewitt, 41, are charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 37-year-old Christopher Heard on the 2300 block of Ainger Place, SE, on April 27, 2017. The prosecution alleges that the two defendants plotted to rob and kill Heard, who was selling the drug PCP to make money after having recently been released from jail. They allege that Everett shot Heard, while Hewitt acted as the getaway driver.

The witness had been Malik’s cellmate since 2018. He also said he has known Hewitt for about 20 years. 

The prosecution played multiple phone calls from DC Jail, where the witness is recorded talking with a woman he referred to as his “play sister” in April 2018. He is heard asking her to contact another witness in the case who says she was with the defendants before, during and after the homicide and is receiving a plea deal in exchange for testifying against them. The cellmate is heard telling the woman on the phone that he wants this witness to stop cooperating with the prosecution. He is also heard asking the woman for a favor in regards to his own case.

The cellmate is now charged with obstruction of justice.

This cellmate testified at the defendants’ last trial, which ended in a mistrial due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During cross-examination, defense attorney Nikki Lotze repeatedly showed records of his previous testimony to point out contradictions between the information he gave then and the information he is giving now.

The trial will resume on July 15.

Hewitt is also charged with possession of a firearm during an act of violence, felony murder while armed and conspiracy in this case. Everett is also charged with possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm, fleeing a law enforcement officer, attempt to commit robbery while armed, conspiracy and obstructing justice.