Case Acquitted: Defense Wants to Probe Victim’s Cell Phone for Exonerating Data

By Hunter Krienke [former] - July 31, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Green was acquitted of murder on Aug. 24, 2023.

On July 31, during a motions hearing DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo heard arguments from defense attorneys concerned about the prosecutors’ inability to access a homicide victim’s phone.

Tamika Green, 37, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license for her alleged involvement in the shooting death of 37-year-old Bryan Tate Jr on the 1600 block of 18th Street, SE on Feb. 20, 2020. 

The homicide allegedly occurred after Tate and Green, who were in a relationship, had a domestic dispute in their apartment that turned fatal.

In court, defense attorney Kevann Gardner raised concerns about the prosecutor’s possession of Tate’s phone because the records could potentially show other suspects.

Prosecutors say they have been attempting to crack the cell phone’s passcode using a machine that inputs different codes until it locates the correct 6-digit number. 

The defense argued that for nearly three-years the prosecutors have had the phone, but they still haven’t managed to extricate the data. 

Defense attorneys said if they had access to the phone earlier their expert could’ve discovered the passcode.

“We were robbed of the opportunity of getting into the phone” Gardner stated in court.

Judge Demeo allowed  the parties to contact their respective experts to determine which one would figure out the passcode fastest. 

Meanwhile, the phone will stay with the prosecution.

Parties are set to meet on August 1, to select a jury.