Judge Denies Motion for Severance

By D.C. Witness Staff - February 19, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

After deeming a murder defendant competent to stand trial, a D.C. Superior Court judge denied defense’s motions for severance.

Cinquan Cartledge and Marquette Tibbs are charged with first-degree murder while armed for their alleged role in the death of Orlando Silver, III on the 1300 block of Howard Road, SE in 2016. 

During a hearing on Feb. 15, Judge Todd Edelman said Carledge was competent to stand trial based on a mental health expert’s report.

Regarding the defense’s motion to sever the codefendants’ cases, Judge Edelman said the disparity of evidence that the prosecution has against either defendant doesn’t guarantee them separate trials, as of now.

Cartledge, 24, and Tibbs, 26, are scheduled to go to trial on May 6.

According to court documents, two eyewitness identified Tibbs as the shooter shortly after the incident.

Furthermore, a police officer saw Tibbs run away from him and reach into his waistband to throw an object into the woods, court documents state. The officer said the object thrown was a loaded Smith and Wesson pistol, which prosecutors said they believe is the same gun used in Silver’s murder.

Police said Tibbs and Cartledge were wearing GPS ankle monitors at the time. According to the monitors, the defendants were near the scene of the crime.