Homicide Defendant Warned to Stay in Probation Compliance

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D.C Superior Court Judge Robert Okun warned a homicide defendant about his non-compliance regarding probation requirements during an Aug. 30 hearing.

Joseph Smith, 60, is charged with voluntary manslaughter while armed for allegedly stabbing his 62-year-old brother, Arnold Smith, in their family home located on the 600 block of Galveston Place, SE on April 9, 2019.

The prosecution expressed concern about Smith’s electronic monitoring device which registered no battery charge for nine hours. However, they acknowledged that Smith did not violate his stay away order and was compliant with the rest of his probation conditions.

Smith’s defense attorney, Joseph Yarbough, assured the court that this was a one time occurrence.

The judge released Smith, and warned him about charging his device in compliance with his probation.

Parities are set to reconvene on Sept. 3.