Judge Gives Prosecutors A Week to Turn in All Material to Defense

By Zakiyia Ortiz [former] - November 4, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

During a Nov. 3 hearing, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt got frustrated after the prosecution failed to turn over all evidence to the defense before redacting it from court documents.

Co-defendants Maurice Johnson, 23, and 21-year-old Jermaine Harris are charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection to the shooting death of 38-year-old Lamar Walters on the 2400 block of Franklin Street NE on Jan. 6, 2020. 

“It totally jacks up the defense’s ability to attack or counter the investigation,” Judge Brandt told the prosecutor.  

Johnson’s defense attorney Thomas Key said the prosecution failed to turn over case information until a month before the trial.

The prosecution said it was disclosed in the arrest warrant, but it was redacted or taken away.

However, the defense said it should have never been redacted. Their third motion was filed and signed by the chief judge to turn over all violating information to give the defense enough time to respond. 

“I am having a hard time understanding why information has not been disclosed to the defense,” Judge Brandt said. 

Harris’ defense attorney, Jonathan Zucker also mentioned that all motions were filed for Harris except the motion to compel the most recent information for sanctions. 

During the hearing, the prosecution also referenced an incident that occurred on two different dates with footage that showed people entering a white Camry and then the victim’s Black Dodge Nissan.

The video disclosed evidence regarding people of interest in the same gang as the defendants are allegedly part of and the individuals of interest have not been arrested and are wanted for another murder. According to court documents, police were aware of a long-standing beef between the 18 and Monroe crew, whom are now referred to as Young World and the Saratoga crew.

According to court documents, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers arrived on the scene and found Walters suffering from several gunshot wounds. Walters was transported to the hospital but later succumbed to his injuries. 

The prosecutor said a possible suspect was also pronounced dead on Dec. 27, 2020.

One detective testified to identifying Johnson as Harris’s only friend and they have photos of another suspect known with similar features.

Zucker pointed out the detective misidentified someone else before and he wants those contacts before the next hearing to cross-examine. The defendants were questioned and I don’t even know who the detective is, he said. 

The next motions hearing is scheduled for Nov. 14.