‘Don’t Decide Guilt on Speculative Doubt,’ Prosecutor Says

By D.C. Witness Staff - February 6, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

During closing arguments of a jury trial, a prosecutor asked the jury not to decide a murder defendant’s fate based on doubts that come from speculation.

Mason Binion, 32, is charged with first-degree murder while armed after allegedly shooting Michael Francis Taylor, 21, on the 600 block of Farragut Street, NW on June 22, 2008. Apparently, Binion and Taylor were friends. Binion’s co-defendant, Victor Carvajal’s case was dismissed the day before opening statements. Carvajal was also charged with first-degree murder while armed. 

“We don’t know if Mr. Binion actually pulled the trigger but, what we do know is that he was the last person seen with Mr. Taylor before he died and we know that because of corroborated testimony by multiple witnesses who identified him in court. He was a part of this conspiracy to kill Michael Taylor,” said the prosecutor.

The prosecutor conceded that more than one person could have been at the scene with a gun after Binion’s defense attorney, Kristin McGough, pointed to another type of shell casing that was found on the scene.

The prosecutor asked the jury not to choose whether Binion was guilty or innocent based on doubts that McGough brought up.

He said that to convict Binion on a murder charge would mean that the jury could find him guilty for being a part of the conspiracy to commit the murder.

“If every witness came up here and testified with perfect memory of a 12 year old murder, the defense would say that it’s just way too good to be 100 percent true and accurate,” the prosecutor said referencing witness recollections, such as the testimony of 32-year-old Joshua Massaquoi.

Massaquoi, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder, carrying a pistol during a crime of violence and accessory to second-degree murder, said he was with Binion. Phone records also indicate that Massaquoi and Binion were together during the time Taylor was killed.

The prosecutor said that even though Massaquoi was,”clearly a troubled man,” that the jurors should not consider his mental illness in deciding his credibility.

Jury deliberations began on Feb. 6.