Judge Finds Probable Cause, Holds Murder Defendant Without Bail

By D.C. Witness Staff - April 26, 2019
Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

A DC Superior Court Magistrate judge found probable cause April 25 and ordered that a 26-year-old murder defendant be held without bail.

Keith Anthony Johnson is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the death of 49-year-old Edwin Richardson on the 2900 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, SE on April 5. According to court documents, Richardson was stabbed after a group of men chased him through an intersection.

After hearing arguments from counsel, Judge Errol Arthur found probable cause for murder, saying that even if Johnson didn’t stab Richardson, he was an “active participant” in the events leading to the murder.

Defense attorney, Dominique Winters, said surveillance footage, which shows a group of men chasing Richardson prior to his death, didn’t show the actual stabbing. Winters said the prosecution has no evidence that Johnson knew about the stabbing, which means there’s no proof Johnson aided in Richardson’s death.

In turn, the prosecution said Johnson was identifiable on the footage because he was wearing a red jacket. The prosecutor said Johnson chased Richardson through an intersection with a group of other men, which the prosecutor argued is proof that Johnson knew of the stabbing. Apparently, Johnson also spoke to police and admitted to getting in an argument with Richardson and said he “enjoyed” chasing him.

Regarding release, Winters acknowledged that Johnson has three pending misdemeanor cases, but said that he doesn’t have weapons or felony charges that would make him a danger to society.

However, the prosecutor said Johnson was already on probation at the time of his arrest, and that he had failed to appear in court. The prosecutor also said Johnson’s family was evicted prior to his arrest and that he was unemployed, which would make him more likely to commit crimes upon release. 

“We don’t detain people because they’re homeless or unemployed,” Winters said addressing the prosecution’s argument.

Johnson is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on May 6.