Judge Finds ‘Substantial Evidence’ Against Defendant in Homicide Case

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DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman determined in a hearing that there was enough evidence against a defendant in a homicide for the case to move forward.

Philbert Griffith Jr., 20, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly killing Southwest D.C. resident Alante Moore, 28, on the 1500 block of 19th Street, SE on June 19.

During the Aug. 26 hearing, the lead detective said the suspected murderer wore a belt with a large buckle and a hooded sweatshirt with writing on it. Griffith’s clothing matched the same description.

Griffith was also shot on June 19. He was treated for a gunshot wound in the abdomen in a nearby hospital where he was questioned by Washington.

The prosecution wanted Grffith to be held without bail in DC Jail. “[He is] still a major risk to the community at large,” the prosecutor said.

Defense attorney Douglas Wood, on the other hand, advocated that it was unjust to hold Griffith in jail because he does not have a previous criminal record.

Wood also said the homicide appeared to have been part of a larger conflict between two neighborhoods, but there was no evidence to suggest that Griffith was involved in this other conflict.

Judge Edelman determined that there were reasonable grounds for holding Griffith in jail and continuing the case.

“In my view, there is substantial evidence that he participated in this event,” Judge Edelman said.

The case is scheduled to continue with a felony status hearing on Jan. 6, 2021, at 9:30 a.m.

2020 CF1 005549

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