Defense Reveals Strategy In Double Homicide Trial 

By Alesar Harfoush [former] - April 27, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On April 26, defense revealed its defense strategy by asking the prosecution’s witness about possible perpetrators who were thought to be suspects during a homicide investigation.

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 attempt to commit robbery and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction in connection to the death of Delonte Wilson, 23, and Antone Brown, 44, near the 400 block of 61st Street, NE on April 25, 2018. 

DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt had an ex parte discussion with defense counsel, Prescott Loveland and Kevaan Gardner, regarding defense strategy, which the prosecution asked to be allowed to hear.

Judge Brandt told the prosecution that everything that was talked about during ex parte is already at their fingertips and that the defense has the right to not disclose their strategy.  

She also stated that she will allow the defense latitude with their third person perpetrator strategy because even the police believed there was another suspect that had the opportunity, motive and means to commit the crime.  

“If I do not allow this to happen this will be struck down by the court of appeal,” said Judge Brandt to the prosecution. 

 A former sex worker, who used to live at the house where the crime happened, prior to it happening, testified. The witness said she was in the house shooting heroin with the owner a few hours before the shooting occurred.  

According to the witness, an individual overdosed and died approximately a year prior to the homicide in the same house where the shooting happened. 

When Gardner asked about the overdose, the prosecution objected, saying no reports have been found about this incident to support that it actually happened. 

Judge Brandt disagreed and stated that just because there was no report it does not mean it did not happen. She allowed the defense to ask further questions, saying it is relevant to the case.

Wilson took over the house from the owner and used it as his drug operation location, according to the defense. 

When asked by Gardner, the witness told the jury that Wilson beat up the owner so bad, that his facial appearance changed a month prior to the homicide.

Gardner asked the witness about her ex-boyfriend, who she saw after the shooting in another friend’s house down the street with blood all over him. She stated that he also had Wilson’s cell phones and other valuable items that he collected from the house. 

According to the defense, the detective attempted to work with a witness to try to find the perpetrator to question him, but they were not able to bring him to DC after he moved to Virginia shortly after the homicide. 

The prosecution then called three forensic scientists who tested evidence collected from the crime scene. 

According to the defense, one of the forensic scientists conducted a DNA from Walker to connect him to evidence collected from the crime scene.

The defense then asked her multiple times, to which the prosecution objected, if she was asked to conduct a DNA from any other individuals for the case. 

After Judge Brandt overruled the prosecution’s objection, the witness stated that she only collected Walker’s DNA.  

Parties are scheduled to return to court on April 27.