Judge Continues Hearing for Murder Case, Again

By D.C. Witness Staff - October 1, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A DC Superior Court judge continued a preliminary hearing for four co-defendants charged with the murder of an 11-year-old boy after the second day of proceedings.

Carlo General, Christen Wingfield, Marcel Gordon and Daryle Bond are all charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection with the fatal shooting on 11-year-old Davon McNeal. The shooting occurred on July 4 on the 1400 block of Cedar Street, SE.

Oct. 1 was the second day of the hearing, which will ultimatley determine if this case has enough evidence to go to trial. 

Bond’s defense attorney, James King, resumed his cross-examination of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective who first took the stand yesterday. 

The prosecution’s decision to call this detective as a witness, rather than the lead detective, drew scrutiny yesterday. But the prosecution said they chose this specific detective because of his role in obtaining the surveillance footage they will be using.

On Oct. 1, King asked the detective if he interviewed or spoke to the detectives that interviewed one of the witnesses. The detective said he did not. 

According to the court documents, one of the initial detectives on the case said there was a black vehicle in an alley near the crime scene during the time of the shooting. The detective said he was made to lookout for a black vehicle when he arrived on the scene. 

Judge Neal Kravitz asked the prosecution if there is footage of an interview with that witness. The prosecution said there was. However, that footage wasn’t shared with the defense due to safety concerns for the witness.

“There’s a fifth unidentified individual who hasn’t been taken into custody.” said the prosecutor. “The defendants are part of the Cedar Garden Crew and there’s other people in this crew that have access to firearms.”

The Cedar Garden is a neighborhood gang.

“I don’t think the government’s claims are off base,” said Judge Kravitz. “ It certainly seems from other info and evidence that there is some sort of beef between neighborhoods. However, the defense has a right to know who this witness is.”

General’s attorney, Jocelyn Weisner, ran into the same issue with the prosecution regarding video footage of another witness’ interview. 

Weisner asked for that witness’ interview because, according to her, that was the only evidence tying her client to the shooting. 

The prosecution once again cited a safety issue for the witness.

All the defense attorneys responded to that claim by saying that the identity of the witness was already known.

“Why would disclosing relevant portions of the videos increase any danger to witness six?” said Judge Kravitz. 

The prosecutor responded that he had no answer at that time. 

King’s cross-examination was divided into two parts with Weisner’s taking place in the middle. When King continued, he asked for video footage of yet another witness, and the prosecution once again cited safety issues. 

Due to time constraints, cross examination was cut short again. 

The hearing is scheduled to continue on Oct. 2.

This article was written by Saif Habboub