Judge Continues Murder Trial to 2020

By D.C. Witness Staff - July 3, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

During a status hearing July 3, a DC Superior Court judge continued a murder trial for a 25-year-old case until April of 2020. 

Therion Bryant is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the stabbing of 25-year-old Charlene Johnson on the 3600 block of New Hampshire Avenue., NW on Oct. 16, 1993.

The trial was continued because the defense needs more time to review a massive amount of documents pertaining to the case, according to defense attorney Jacqueline Cadman. Bryant, 51, was not required to be at the hearing. He is currently released on personal recognizance. 

D.C. Witness previously reported that Bryant became a person of interest in the case in 2014 when DNA from the crime scene was entered into an FBI database and his came up as a match. 

According to WUSA 9, the police questioned Bryant about the murder in 2014. At that time he said he knew Johnson but hadn’t seen her that day. However, in 2016, DNA from a sexual assault kit performed on the victim’s body matched Bryant, prompting his arrest.

There were three other suspects in the case, including Johnson’s boyfriend; Daryl Turner and a third suspect, who confessed to the stabbing while he was at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric hospital, but later took back his confession. Both victims were ruled out because their DNA was not found on the scene. 

The prosecution told Judge Craig Iscoe that a plea offer for voluntary manslaughter was offered, but no decision has been made. The prosecution didn’t discuss any further details of the plea deal. 

The prosecution requested that Bryant be present at the next status hearing scheduled on Oct. 25.