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By
Larissa Atkins [former]
- November 15, 2021
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Shooting
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Victims
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A DC Superior Court judge denied a murder defendant’s request for a compassionate release based on the COVID-19 pandemic.
The defendant, 27-year-old Lewkus Turner, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 27-year-old Vincent Gyamfi on Dec. 11, 2020, on the 1700 block of 29th Street, SE.
According to court documents, Gyamfi was shot three times: twice in the torso and once in the hip.
Defense attorney Jon Norris filed the compassionate release motion back in May. He also recently filed an emergency release motion, citing the conditions of confinement at DC Jail. While Judge Neal Kravitz denied the May motion, he said he was unable to rule on the later one. He said more information from the U.S. Marshal Service and the DC Jail must be obtained before he can make a ruling.
These decisions come in the wake of reports from the U.S. Marshals Service about the jail’s condition based on an unannounced inspection of the facility. The results of the inspection were sent to the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division for review of potential violations of the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, specifically in regard to the Central Detention Facility, D.C. Witness previously reported.
During the Nov. 12 hearing, defense attorney Jon Norris raised concerns over an alleged COVID-19 outbreak at the DC Jail. Norris said his client has health issues and turned down the COVID-19 vaccine because of them. However, in a motion, Norris explained that he was unable to find a study showing benefits from those with Turner’s health issues receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
Judge Neal Kravitz said he has not received enough evidence that Turner should refuse the vaccine for health reasons and denied the motion. He said he suggests Turner get the vaccine to protect himself from COVID-19.
Parties are scheduled to reconvene on Jan. 26.