Judge Finds Probable Cause in Homicide Case

By Sam Chodorow [former] - March 13, 2024
Daily Stories | Uncategorized |

On March 13, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan found probable cause that a homicide defendant was the perpetrator in the incident. 

Charles D. Best, 25, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 35-year old Darius Robinson, which occurred on Feb. 18, 2023, on the 1600 block of Rosedale Street, NE.

The prosecutor called the lead Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective to the stand to detail evidence in the case.

The prosecutor began by submitting original and supplemental affidavits, written by the detective, which detail officers arriving on scene around three o’clock in the morning. There, the homeowner explained that the suspect [Best] “killed a man [Robinson] for nothing,” before fleeing the crime scene.

The detective then explained that before the shooting had occurred, the host had invited Robinson, Best, and other individuals to a house party, noting that there were multiple tequila and wine bottles found at the scene, and were “having a fun time.”

A witness present at the party earlier in the evening also noted that they had not been happy with the homeowner inviting the defendant. According to the witness and the detective, there had been a physical altercation with the host’s sister on an earlier date, in which the defendant allegedly broke her jaw.

A map showcasing the crime scene, the point of arrest, the point of discarded jacket allegedly belonging to the defendant, and a trash can containing a firearm believed to have been used in the shooting were submitted as well.

The prosecutor then showed five minutes of body-worn camera footage, which showed an officer knocking on the door of the residence, and also showed Robinson’s body, who was found unresponsive.

Additionally, the prosecutor showed photos from different angles and distances of a handgun recovered from a trashcan one block from the crime scene, as well as an empty magazine.

During cross-examination, Megan Allburn, defense counsel for Best, walked the lead detective through the events of the shooting, challenging him to confirm the timeline and the validity of statements made by an allegedly intoxicated witness.

Allburn also asked Judge Raffinan to strike the original police affidavit from the record, as the lead detective himself had not signed it, and she questioned its validity.

When asked whether there was any “beef” present at the houseparty which had ended hours before the shooting, the detective informed the court that he hadn’t talked to witnesses who had left before the shooting, as it didn’t seem relevant at the time.

Allburn questioned the detective about the party that happened before the shooting, noting the liquor and wine bottles found in the kitchen, and questioning whether alcohol had played a role.

Additionally, Allburn asked him how he knew the discarded jacket belonged to the defendant. The detective noted that the primary witness to the shooting had described to him and other officers the clothing the shooter was allegedly wearing. It was also noted that it was mid-twenty degrees on the morning of the investigation, and the defendant was found walking without a jacket, and allegedly ran away upon seeing the patrol car.

The detective also noted that when the suspect fled the crime scene, he allegedly disposed of the jacket down the street, and when officers retraced Best’s flight path after arresting him, the jacket was found in the way.

Given the evidence presented, Judge Raffinan found probable cause in the case, and Best will remain detained.

Parties are set to reconvene on June 28.