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By
Elizabeth Bernstein
- December 4, 2024
Daily Stories
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Homicides
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During a hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe on Dec. 4 the defense requested a delay in a double murder trial. The case has been ongoing for seven years.
James Mayfield, 27, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder while armed, three counts of robbery while armed, attempt to commit robbery while armed, three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, threat to kidnap or injure a person, assault with dangerous weapon, 11 counts of possession of firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a pistol without a license and possession of unregistered firearm.
The charges stem from multiple incidents that occurred between Dec. 26 and Dec. 27 of 2017, including the shooting dearhs of Jermaine Bowens, 38, and Elijah Henry, 21.
Mayfield allegedly committed these crimes while under an arrest warrant from Oct. 25, 2017, in connection with the shooting of Jamahri Sydnor, 17, on Aug. 10, 2017, at the intersection of Montana and Saratoga Avenue, NE.
On Dec. 8, 2022, jurors found Mayfield guilty of conspiracy, first-degree premeditated murder while armed, five counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, and aggravated assault knowingly while armed for his involvement in Sydnor’s murder.
Sentencing was delayed after the defense filed a motion for a new trial after it was determined one of the jurors attended the same high school as Mayfield.
On Sept. 6, 2024, Mayfield was sentenced to 50 years of incarceration for Sydnor’s murder, but the defense has appealed the conviction.
The trial for the murders of Bowens and Henry were set to trail Sydnor’s and are currently scheduled for Jan. 27, 2025.
During today’s hearing, Mayfield’s attorney, Veronice Holt, requested to delay the upcoming trial because she is handling the appeal of the previous trial and will not be ready for the January date.
The prosecution opposed the delay, citing that the case is from 2017 and already delayed.
Judge O’Keefe stated that he will rule on the continuance of the trial at the next hearing.
Parties are set to reconvene on Dec. 17.