Government to retry murder suspect Derryck Decuir

By D.C. Witness Staff - April 4, 2017
Court | Homicides | Suspects |

After a mistrial last month, the government announced Monday it will move forward with a retrial of Derryck Decuir’s case for the alleged murder of Malek Mercer.

After three days of deliberations last month, the jury could not come to a decision on government’s charges against Decuir for first first-degree murder while armed against a minor, and a possession of a firearm during crime of violence.

During trial the defense argued that Decuir acted in self-defense and requested the jury find him not guilty on all charges.

The jury ultimately found Decuir guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm based on a prior conviction, obstruction of justice, carrying a pistol without a license and tampering with physical evidence.

Decuir is still being held without bond, and a trial readiness hearing is scheduled for December 15. The case is expected to head to trial next February.