Judge Denies Murder Defendant’s Release While He Waits for Trial

By D.C. Witness Staff - October 31, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

On Oct 30. a judge denied release of a murder defendant who has been held in jail for over a year while he waits for his trial to begin. 

Tondrick Murphy, 29, is charged with first-degree murder while armed committed during release, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence during release, and unlawful posession of a firearm during release with a prior conviction for allegedly shooting 26-year-old Marquis Jones on 2000 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE on Oct. 6, 2018. Murphy said the shooting was in self defense. 

DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman said that the nature of the offense was very serious. He also said that in a video of the altercation, the moment leading up to the shooting did not look like self defense despite the defense’s claim.  

Judge Edelman said the defendant had prior bench warrants, and he could not be sure Murphy would return to court for trial. 

During a felony status conference, Murphy’s defense counsel, Ronald B Resetarits, said new discovery shows Murphy was robbed by the victim. 

Resetarits said that, according to a witness, the victim had threatened to kill Murphy during the days leading up to the altercation.

Resetarits reiterated that Murphy did not have a history of violent offenses.

Murphy has been held in jail since November of 2018. 

His trial is scheduled to begin on July 13, 2020. 

A status conference is set for Jan. 17, 2020.