Judge Allows Murder Defendant to Go to School

By D.C. Witness Staff - August 28, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

During a status hearing Aug. 28, a judge allowed a murder defendant to be released from home confinement in order to finish school.

Eric Smith, 20, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in a drive-by shooting. He is also charged with possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with the intent to kill against a minor, assault with the intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with significant bodily injury and unauthorized use of a vehicle for his alleged role in the death of 38-year-old Rondell Wills on the 200 block of 50th Street, NE on May 3, 2018. Wills was not the target in the shooting.

Defense attorney, Iseshaah Murphy, said that Smith had chosen to get his general education diploma in Alexandria, Va. instead of commuting into DC to attend Maya Angelou Public Charter School.

Smith, with the aide of an education attorney, decided to attend the Braddock Place Campus in Alexandria, VA which is only 15 minutes away, by car, from his sister’s house, where he is currently on home confinement. Classes are scheduled to run from 8:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Smith must register by Sept. 3.

D.C. Witness previously reported that the prosecution was concerned with transportation for Smith.

The prosecution requested that Smith be placed on home confinement at his sister’s house in Alexandria when he was not in class. The prosecution also requested that there be tight timelines between Smith leaving the house for school and leaving school to return home.

DC Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe ordered that Smith has thirty minutes before classes begin to get to school and thirty minutes after classes end to get home.

Judge Iscoe said Smith could not make any stops during his commute and he must provide pre-trial services with weekly schedules for approval. Judge Iscoe also said Smith has to get all additional programs approved before he can attend.

In addition, the defense and prosecution requested a change in the November 2020 trial date.

Trial is now scheduled on March 8, 2021.

A status hearing is scheduled on Nov. 1 to update Judge Iscoe on Smith’s transition.