Judge Delays Ruling on Severance Motion in Co-Defendant Shooting Case

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On March 29, Dc Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe requested more time to consider a shooting defendant’s motion to sever from his co-defendant.

Jonah Harris, 47, and Gerald Jones-Hall, 24, are charged with conspiracy to rob, two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, and assault with intent to commit robbery while armed, among other charges, after allegedly participating in the shooting and attempted robbery of two victims at the 1300 block of Good Hope Road, SE, on July 10, 2023. Both victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

Harris’ defense attorney, Christen Romero, motioned to sever the co-defendants’ cases on the basis that Harris and Jones-Hall cases were improperly joined in the first place.

Romero claimed that the “weight of the evidence” for both defendants varies and it would be prejudicial to Harris to be tried at the same time as Jones-Hall.

According to Jones-Hall’s defense attorney, Janai Reed, evidence from Harris’ case will prejudice Jones-Hall in the event that the case is not severed.

Romero argued that the jury will infer that Jones-Harris was involved simply by assuming he is “guilty by association.”

“I have faith in DC juries,” Judge O’Keefe stated. “They’ll have no problem acquitting one and not the other.”

The prosecution argued that the weight of the evidence thus far was identical on both defendants.

Of the two defendants’ 19 charges, 15 were shared between Harris and Jones-Hall. The prosecution played footage of an altercation captured by a DC Metro bus, and stated that, in the prosecution’s opinion, Harris and Jones-Hall were both depicted allegedly assaulting the victims.

Judge O’Keefe told parties that he needed time for further research about a potential severance.

In the event that the defendants are tried together, a tentative date is set for April 28, 2025.

Parties will reconvene for a status hearing on April 10.

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