A defense attorney asked to withdraw from a homicide case before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on Aug. 7 after his client expressed dissatisfaction after accepting a plea deal.
Korriek Akinola, 24, pleaded guilty on Aug. 18, 2025 to second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Joshua White on June 6, 2023, on the 4700 block of South Capitol Street, SE. White sustained gunshot wounds to his chest, shoulder, back, and calf.
According to Kevin Mosley, Akinola’s attorney, Akinola wishes to withdraw his guilty plea.
In Mosley’s motion to withdraw as counsel, filed on Aug. 6, he wrote that Akinola “believes his guilty plea was not entered knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily.” According to Mosley, Akinola contended that he was coerced and pressured, and Mosley’s advice was ineffective.
Mosley asked to withdraw because he does not believe he can ethically represent Akinola while addressing the accusations against his efforts, according to his motion.
Judge Kravitz agreed with Mosley, and decided to appoint another attorney, Adrian Madsen, to advise Akinola on withdrawing his guilty plea and Mosley’s motion to withdraw.
In email communication with Judge Kravitz, Madsen requested until early October to have time to catch up on the case and meet with Akinola, Mosley, and the prosecutor.
The prosecutor expressed dissatisfaction in that White’s family already waited for the case to resolve.
The hearing was originally scheduled as Akinola’s sentencing. According to court documents, Akinola’s sentencing has been rescheduled six times.
Parties are set to reconvene on Oct. 2.
