Defense Reaffirms Murder Defendant’s Innocence

By D.C. Witness Staff - July 24, 2018
Court | Homicides | Suspects |

During closing arguments in a 2016 murder trial, the defense reaffirmed their client’s innocence.

Paul Swann is charged with second-degree murder while armed for the death of Adam Barker on the 2700 block of Langston Place, SE in 2016. Traveous Brown, who implicated Swann, pled guilty to the murder on June 14. 

Mani Golzari, one of Swann’s attorneys, criticized the prosecution for holes in their argument and unreliable witnesses. Golzari said the cell site analysis that places Swann, 24, in the area of the murder was inaccurate because buildings or signals could have blocked his true location.

“This case is riddled with reasonable doubt,” Golzari told the jury. Golzari summarized in detail how the major witnesses, including Brown, 28, were either unsure of the identification of the suspect, untruthful, or “sloppy” in their investigation.

According to court documents, after a verbal altercation,  Swann and Brown opened fire on Barker, 21. Barker sustained a gunshot wound to the back.

On July 23, the prosecution told the jury that cell phone evidence, two eyewitness testimonies and surveillance footage “proved beyond a shadow of doubt” that Swann should be convicted for Barker’s death. 

The jury began deliberating on July 23.