Defense Reveals Murder Witness Has Previous Perjury Conviction

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The defense disparaged a key eyewitness’s credibility in a murder trial after revealing inconsistencies in her testimony, and citing her prior conviction for perjury.

Alphonso Walker, 45, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder while armed with aggravating circumstances, two counts of first-degree murder while armed while committing or attempting to commit a robbery, six counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of attempting to commit robbery and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction in connection to the death of Dalonte Wilson, 23, and Antone Brown, 44, near the 400 block of 61st Street, NE on April 25, 2018.

During the incident, three individuals were in the home where the shooting took place. Two of the individuals present during the murders testified at Monday’s hearing.

Both eyewitnesses explained that they had been using heroin in April 2018 and intended to get high the night of the shooting. They said they were waiting in one of the rooms for Wilson to sell them drugs.

Then they heard an argument followed by a gunshot, shut off the lights and took cover. Another man, whose voice was unrecognized, demanded that Wilson give him everything he had. When Wilson said that he didn’t have anything, the witnesses heard another gunshot before the house fell silent.

Both witnesses explained that the two men briefly entered the room where they had been hiding. One of the witnesses was unable to provide any information about the suspect as she hid under the couch.

The other witness, however, stated she recognized Walker as the shooter when she saw him two days after the murders and identified him in court. She also identified an alternate suspect in a photo but stated that he had not been in the house that night.

However, defense attorney Prescott Loveland noted inconsistencies in her testimony.

Loveland said the witness testified during the grand jury proceedings and stated in a police interview that she would only be able to identify the suspect if she could hear his voice. When asked how she was able to identify Walker without first hearing his voice, the witness stated that she lied.

Under questioning, the witness admitted she hadn’t heard an audio recording nor was shown a photo of Walker made during the last five years.

Loveland also asked about whether the lights had been on in the room where the shooting happened. She testified they had been turned on. However, in her grand jury testimony, she stated that they were off. When asked if she had lied, the witness stated that “they never asked” if the lights were turned on.

Loveland also asked the witness about her conviction for perjury in 1989, when she had given a false in-court identification.

“Today I’m not lying,” the witness later stated.

An additional witness present in the home during the night of the murders may not be allowed to testify as he mistakenly entered the courtroom and overheard a previous witness’s testimony. That matter will be determined at the next hearing.

The trial before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt is scheduled to resume on May 3 at 9:30 am.

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