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D.C. Witness Staff
- January 24, 2020
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A judge denied Jan. 24 a motion to remove a murder defendant from home confinement.
Eric Smith, 20, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvment in the death of 38-year-old Rondell Wills on the 200 block of 50th Street, NE on May 3, 2018. Wills was not the intended target and was shot while protecting children when a drive-by shooting occurred, according to court documents.
DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz said that he did not know enough about the case to make a decision about whether home confinement should be removed. Judge Kravitz also told the defense attorney that she should refile a motion to remove the defendant from home confinement.
Smith’s defense attorney, Ieshaah Murphy, said the defendant should be removed from home confinement because he did not have any violations since it was first set in August of 2019.
During the status hearing, the prosecutor said he would make a decision in the next 30 days about whether he would conduct DNA testing.
According to the prosecutor, there is not any evidence on Smith’s Icloud that can be used against him in court.
Smith’s next hearing, when the defense will decide if they will conduct DNA testing, is scheduled on May 22.
Naysha Carrasquillo wrote this article