Judge Excludes Robbery Evidence from Retrial in 2018 Homicide Case

By Ying He [former] - July 28, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | stabbing | Suspects | Victims |

On July 28, D.C. Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt agreed to remove robbery evidence from a homicide retrial.

Marquette Jordan, 32, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, robbery while armed, threat to kidnap or injure a person, assault with a dangerous weapon, simple assault, and carrying a dangerous weapon outside a home or business by a felon for his alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of Ivan Lynch ,48, on April 30, 2018, on the 900 block of 5th Street, SE. 

According to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) documents, a witness stated Jordan and Lynch were in an “on and off” romantic relationship for a few months. On April 30, 2018 after they picked up two children, they got into an argument and fought with each other. A witness allegedly saw Jordan grab a knife and stab Lynch on the kitchen floor. 

During the trial in March 2022, prosecutors the jury couldn’t reach a verdict on the murder charge and this case proceeded to a retrial. 

At the July 28 hearing, Jordan’s defense attorney, Michael Madden, moved to exclude evidence about Jordan’s possession of Lynch’s cell phone, wallet, and key after the alleged stabbing for the retrial. Madden stated the prosecutors could not provide compelling evidence of Jordan’s alleged robbery. 

Judge Brandt noted previous jury’s decision that Jordan was not guilty of robbery. Judge Brandt then granted the defense to eliminate the robbery evidence from the retrial.

The  trial will begin Aug. 1.