DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe rejected a shooting defendant’s request for release on Sept. 17.
Malik Stone, 28, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm for his alleged involvement in a shooting at the 2100 block of R Street, SE on July 30.
Stone’s defense attorney, Henry Druschel filed a motion for a bond review, and argued in court that the judge for Stone’s preliminary hearing, DC Superior Court Judge Deborah Israel, unreasonably detained him.
Druschel claimed that Judge Israel held Stone without knowing where he would be released and that Stone would be released to a different location than the scene of the crime.
He also argued that this case could be argued as self-defense, as the surveillance footage shown at the preliminary hearing did not show who, either Stone or the victim, shot first.
Judge Pipe informed Druschel that it was not her role to determine probable cause versus self-defense, as she hadn’t reviewed the evidence.
The prosecution argued that, whether the case could be explained as self-defense, Stone is not allowed to own a firearm due to a prior conviction even though he successfully completed probation.
Judge Pipe denied the motion for release and informed Druschel to take the matter of probable cause to Judge Israel if he believed the ruling was incorrect.
Parties are scheduled to reconvene on Oct. 8.
