Homicide Defendant Scheduled For Trial After Nine Years

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On April 12, a homicide defendant whose case has been in adjudication for nearly nine years, received his trial date.

George Edwards, 34, was charged with first-degree murder while armed, four counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, and five counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Reginald Perry on Nov. 7, 2015, on the 1700 block of 8th Street, NW.

On Sept. 8 2016, Edwards initially accepted a plea deal in which he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed, in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges. However, in November 2016, he filed a motion to withdraw the plea.

Edwards was ultimately sentenced to 24 years incarceration and five years supervised release on Nov. 16, 2017.

However, the DC Court of Appeals ruled last year that Edwards had the right to withdraw his original guilty plea.

On Friday, the prosecution said Edward’s DNA was a likely match for samples found on several of the items tested, including two pistols, two magazines, blood in the vehicle, and blood on a baseball cap.

According to court documents, multiple firearms and other pieces of evidence were recovered from the scene and have been tested.

Edwards waived his right to independently test these items before DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe.

After almost nine years, the case is scheduled to be re-tried in October.

Parties are slated to return on Oct. 11 for a trial readiness hearing.

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