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D.C. Witness Staff
- March 2, 2020
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A defense attorney requested independent testing for a knife that was collected as evidence on a murder scene.
Mark Price is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during crime of violence, assault with intent to kill while armed, and burglary while armed for allegedly shooting 47-year-old Andre Hakim Young on the 1500 block of 19th Street, SE on July 30, 2018.
Price’s defense attorney, Pierce Suen, submitted a proposal for independent testing of a black folding knife during a status hearing on Feb. 28. Price, 25, waived his IPA testing rights to the other materials that the prosecution tested.
The knife was recovered in close proximity to Young’s body, according to an arrest warrant.
The defense said the results should be available before the trial readiness hearing, which is scheduled to occur on May 1.
The prosecutor requested that the knife be submitted for expedited testing. If other materials need to be retested, the prosecutor said he would be willing to expedite any re-testing.
DC Superior Court Judge Ronna Lee Beck told Price about the advantages and disadvantages of independent testing, saying the results could either help or hurt his case.