Defense Requests 3rd Continuance for Double Homicide Trial

Thank you for reading D.C. Witness. Help us continue our mission into 2024.

A homicide defendant’s attorney asked DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan on July 9 to consider a third continuance for trial due to expert witness issues.

Keanan Turner, 33, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder while armed with aggravating circumstances, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, destruction of property, carrying a pistol without a license, tampering with physical evidence, second-degree cruelty to children, attempted murder against a minor, and arson.

The charges stem from his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Wanda Wright, 48, and Ebony Wright, 31, on the 2000 block of Good Hope Court, SE on April 12, 2021.

Turner’s defense attorney, Franz Jobson, requested a continuance for the trial that is slated to begin July 17.

Jobson pointed to issues revolving around an expert witness the defense needs to testify in relation to the prosecution’s cell phone data evidence.

The prosecution had entered three cell phone plot points into evidence that allegedly show the defendant in the general area at the time of the murders.

According to Jobson, their witness was set to testify until he received a notification from Turner’s family that they were unable to pay the expert’s invoice, therefore delaying their appearance at trial.

When asked for specifics, Jobson told the court the expert witness is $390 an hour and they have already worked eight hours in preparation for trial.

Additionally, Jobson mentioned that Turner’s family is already in debt to him for around $50,000.

“I don’t think this is an unreasonable request,” Jobson said.

The prosecution objected to this continuance, claiming that this issue should have been brought up sooner than a week before trial, as the witness was contracted by the defense almost a year ago.

According to the prosecution, this trial had already been continued twice and is now over three years old. The prosecutor also stated that this case involves a child and should be moving expeditiously.

Additionally, the prosecution said the defense attorney’s bill should not be delaying the trial as it is a separate matter. If this is a money issue, delaying the trial does not solve that, the prosecutor said.

Judge Raffinan ordered the defense team to file a specific, detailed motion for continuance before 6 p. m. on July 9.

The parties are set to meet again July 10.