Judge Finds Probable Cause in Homicide Case

By Lexie Manning [former] - November 16, 2023
Daily Stories | Homicides | stabbing | Suspects | Victims |

On Nov. 16, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan found the prosecution established probable cause in a stabbing homicide. 

Mussay Rezene, 30, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of 30-year-old Darrow Johnson that occurred on Aug. 17 on the 1900 block of E Street, SE.

According to court documents, Darrow was stabbed on the left side of his head and abdomen inside D.C. Jail’s physical therapy treatment facility. He was transported to Washington Hospital Center, where he later succumbed to his injuries on Nov. 19. 

The prosecution called a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) lead detective, who identified Rezene as the suspect. 

In addition, the prosecution provided surveillance footage of the physical therapy facility showing a group of inmates entering before an altercation broke out between two men. A zoomed in frame showed one inmate which the MPD detective identified as Rezene with a sharp knife in his hand. The officer testified that the same knife was later recovered in a toilet in the jail bathroom. 

During cross-examination, defense attorney Jonathan Zucker asked the witness who started the fight. The witness acknowledged that the fight began out of view and that he could not confirm who started it. 

According to the prosecution, probable cause is appropriate since there is video footage of the defendant attacking the victim and there is no evidence of aggression by the victim, “this isn’t even a close one.” 

Zucker argued that there are still things that need to be examined in the case, “we don’t know who started the fight, we don’t know who brought the knife.” He urged the judge to “not ignore these unanswered questions.” 

Judge Raffinan found that “all elements of first-degree murder have been met in regards to probable cause” due to the stabbing being shown on video and the knife being recovered after the stabbing. She stated, “[in the video] you can see the decedent backing away from the defendant and he still continues to approach and swing while armed with a knife.” 

The judge also denied the defense’s request for release, stating there were no conditions that could “ensure the safety of the community.” 

Parties are expected back Dec. 4.