Defense Starts its Case in 2010 Homicide Trial

By Hunter Krienke [former] - June 15, 2023
Daily Stories | Suspects | Victims |

On June 15, defense attorneys began presenting their case in a murder dating to 2010.

Isaac Moye, 45, is charged with second-degree murder for his alleged involvement in the disappearance and death of Unique Harris, 24. 

Harris, who was last seen near the 2400 block of Hartford Street, SE, was declared missing on Oct. 10, 2010. Moye was charged in connection to the case on Dec. 21, 2020.

While her body was never recovered, an investigation conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) led to Moye’s becoming the primary suspect in her alleged murder.

Prosecutors concluded their case by questioning a forensic analyst about test results from samples recovered at Harris’s apartment. The analyst said that semen recovered from a couch cushion at Harris’s home was a likely match for Moye’s DNA.

Moye previously denied having sexual relations with Harris in her apartment in initial interviews with detectives.

Defense attorney Jason Tulley questioned the analyst about why prosecutors never requested testing for hair samples located around the home and questioned why the samples collected were never run through a database to look for other potential matches.

After concluding with DNA evidence, the defense introduced a former MPD K-9 handler to discuss his involvement in the search for Harris.

During the officer’s search, his dog responded to a scent that led to a jacket in the woods presumed to belong to Harris. The witness was questioned why he did not file a search report which is required. The witness was unable to provide any explanation.

An investigator for the DC Public Defender Service (PDS) testified about her role in checking the route Moye allegedly took away from Harris’s home the night she disappeared.

During her testimony, she was presented with footage recorded of the path. The defense questioned her about numerous buildings on the path that could have had security cameras and potential witnesses.

Prosecutors cross-examined the investigator discussing how Moye’s path avoided a police station and was normally a quiet area.
The trial is slated to resume before DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein on June 16.