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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- March 13, 2018
Court
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Featured
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Homicides
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Suspects
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After a week of deliberations, a jury’s inability to reach a unanimous decision prompted Judge Ronna Beck to declare a mistrial March 12 for the 2015 homicide of Marcus Manor. The trial began on Feb. 12.
Jurors said they were undecided on Kevin Chase’s first-degree murder charge. Also, the jury could not decide on whether Demetrius Brandon should be convicted of accessory after the fact in an assault with the intent to kill.
In a partial verdict March 8, the jury found Brandon, 30, not guilty of murder or possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.
Additionally, the jury found Chase, 30, guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm and carrying a pistol without a license. Chase was found not guilty of assault with significant bodily injury from an altercation that happened at his sister’s apartment complex four days before the homicide.
The prosecution opened their case by presenting Manor, 38, as being involved in a violent relationship with Chase’s sister since May 2015. Counsel said Manor parked outside Chase’s sister’s residence to win her back after she kicked him out on Oct. 16, 2015.
According to Chase’s sister, Manor kicked her and “put his hands” on her which led to her kicking him out.
To get rid of Manor, the prosecution said Chase decided to take the law into his own hands and called Brandon to plan and carryout the shooting.
The defense argued the homicide was not a crime; it was self-defense. Chase’s Attorney, Kevann Gardner, said that Manor threatened to kill Chase and he had no choice but to shoot.
“None of us should have to find ourselves in the place Kevin Chase found himself on that day,” Gardner said. He said Chase only protected himself, which is what the law allows.
On the day of the homicide, Chase said he told Manor to leave his sister alone, but Manor became angry. Chase said he shot Manor five times because he seemed to be reaching for a gun.
Surveillance videos from the Metropolitan Police Department and private businesses captured Chase running down the street and getting into Brandon’s car immediately after the shooting.
Brandon’s attorney, James Williams, claimed that Brandon did not have any knowledge of the shooting beforehand.
The defense also tried to establish Manor’s violent demeanor. The defense called an ex-girlfriend who had suffered from instances of abuse, such as when Manor threatened to “blow her brains out” in front of her children.
The prosecution said they would proceed with prosecuting Chase and Brandon for the charges the jury could not rule on.
Judge Beck instructed counsel to provide available trial dates to her chambers by March 19 in order to schedule a new trial. A status hearing was scheduled for March 23.