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By
Isabelle Chiu [former]
- July 27, 2022
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Shooting
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Suspects
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Victims
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Editor’s note: The case against Kenneil Cole was dismissed on Feb. 1, 2023.
DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan granted a homicide defendant’s motion to modify release conditions from weekly to monthly reporting.
Kenneil Cole is charged with first-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for allegedly shooting his roommate, 24-year-old Keon Wallace, on the 2400 block of Skyland Place, SE on June 25, 2018.
Cole was initially released from detention on Feb. 20, 2020, under the high-intensity supervision program before being moved to a lower level of supervision on Sept. 14, 2021.
The defendant’s release conditions included checking in with the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) once a week with no GPS monitoring and no curfew.
During a hearing on July 27, defense attorney Mani Golzari asked Judge Raffinan to modify Cole’s weekly reporting to monthly, citing “the trend by Mr. Cole abiding by the court’s conditions.”
“I have no doubt Mr. Cole will comply,” Golzari said.
A Pretrial Services Agency representative confirmed Cole’s full compliance with his release conditions.
“In light of his full compliance, I will accept the defense’s motion to modify Mr. Cole’s release conditions,” said Judge Raffinan.
Judge Raffinan also asked Golzari whether Cole intended to conduct any independent DNA testing on the biological materials collected by the prosecutor.
Golzari informed Judge Raffinan the defendant had already invoked his right to independent testing under DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravits, who heard the case when it was originally scheduled to go to trial in 2020 before COVID-19 delays.
Cole’s next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 4.