A homicide defendant’s attorney requested a bench trial before DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan on April 17.
John Woods, 71, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in a fatal shooting of 60-year-old Geno Freeman on the 6000 block of Chillum Place, NE, on Feb. 19, 2021.
During the hearing, Woods’ attorney, Kevin Mosley, requested that a jury not hear the case. He said he does not want a jury to see the information submitted by the prosecution because he argued it depicts Woods as a racist. According to court records, Woods is white and Freeman was Black.
Judge Ryan noted that a trial before a judge as opposed to a jury typically creates more work for the prosecution. Before establishing the logistics of trial, he urged the parties to agree on the facts of the case.
Mosely said that the defense and prosecution agree on what happened but not the depiction of Woods’ as a racist.
Parties are slated to reconvene on July 10.
