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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- July 6, 2016
Court
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Homicides
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Suspects
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The trial for the suspect charged with the alleged murder of James Anderson could go on trial as early as this week.
Dujuan Garris, 21, has been charged with first-degree murder while armed for the Jan. 2015 shooting death of Anderson, 27.
Garris’ trial has been scheduled for July 6.
During Garris’s status hearing last Wednesday, the prosecution and defense argued over key pieces of evidence that could have been contaminated. Five shell casings that were found at the scene contain one to two forms of DNA from unknown males, according to research done by the defense.
The prosecution told Judge Milton C. Lee that they would need at least three weeks to go over the defenses findings, stating that they believe the DNA belongs to detectives who handled the shell casings during the investigation. The prosecution said that they would need to run DNA testing on all of those who may have come in contact with the casings, including whole investigative units, before they can proceed to the July 6 trial date.
The defense argued that they could give the prosecution the results of their analysis before the end of the day Wednesday.
The defense stated that Garris would like to go to trial as soon as possible, and that he would be wiling to waive his preliminary hearing as a “last resort,” and they would forgo this evidence being used in his trial. Lee countered this request and said that at the last hearing Garris was “very pointed that he wanted the testing done.”
If the trial could not begin in July, Garris’ representation warned it could be pushed as far back as 2017– as a member of their team will be out during August.
The prosecution agreed to attempting to start the trial next Wednesday but stated that the odds would be unlikely.
Garris is scheduled to be in court again on July 6 at 9:30 a.m.