Defense Requests a Continuance After Privately Discussing Proposed Peal Deal 

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Over two years after her arrest, a murder defendant appeared in front of D.C. Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo to discuss a proposed plea deal.

Nijinsky Dix, a 38-year-old former professor at the University of Notre Dame, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for her alleged connection to the shooting of Terry Hickman.

Dix’s defense attorney, Brandi Harden, and the prosecution prepared a plea deal for Dix’s status hearing on Feb. 8, but after a private conversation with Judge Demeo, Harden requested a continuance.

The shooting occurred on Nov. 14, 2020, on the 1000 block of 4th Street, NW. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to a 911 call regarding gunshot sounds coming from inside an apartment building.

According to court documents, when the officers arrived on the scene they found Hickman lying face down, with multiple gunshot wounds. Dix was kneeling next to him with the murder weapon in hand. She was arrested at the scene.

During her interview with MPD detectives, Dix repeatedly told the officers she struggled with memory problems and asked them for information that would help remind her of the incident. 

When the detectives showed her a photo of Hickman in an attempt to help her remember, she began crying, saying “Get it away from me.”

Dix has rejected previous plea deals, and it is unknown, at this time, why Harden decided to request a continuance after her conversation with Judge Demeo.

All parties are scheduled to return to court to continue discussing the plea deal on Feb. 13.

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