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By
Mia Febles [former]
- February 20, 2024
Homicides
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Shooting
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Suspects
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Victims
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On Feb. 20, a homicide defendant’s attorney requested a new trial date before DC Superior Court Judge Micheal O’Keefe.
Samuel Mack, 57, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license, for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 35-year-old Erica Ward. The shooting occurred in an apartment on the 4700 block of Benning Road, SE, on Dec. 30, 2020.
According to court documents, Mack and Ward used to be in a relationship and began arguing on the night of the incident when Mack took their son to visit Ward.
Mack’s defense attorney, Prescott Loveland, asked the court to reschedule the trial, which was set to happen in early June to a later date. At first Judge O’Keefe denied the continuance.
Loveland argued that he was recently put on this case and the original trial date was not feasible. He claimed that delaying the trial date would allow him to be fully prepared to represent Mack, who could be facing life in prison.
O’Keefe wanted to move the case along and pushing trial to a later date would do the opposite. “There is no availability for the people who want to exercise a speedy trial, they have to sit in jail and wait,” Judge O’Keefe stated.
Loveland questioned the judge’s impartiality. He claimed that O’Keefe hasn’t continued a Public Defender Service (PDS) case in over a year.
Judge O’Keefe responded that his intentions were to never make Loveland or other attorneys from PDS feel disregarded and this is simply due to the fact that the court schedule is overbooked.
“I came here to demonstrate that significant progress has been made,” Loveland said.
Before Loveland was appointed, Mack had no counsel for about eight months, according to the prosecution. Since he’s been appointed, Loveland stated he has developed a good relationship with Mack and has been able to move the case forward.
After all parties discussed their availability, a new trial date was scheduled for July 28, 2025.
The next status hearing is set for October 11.