Judge Grants Defense Motion To Deliver Witness Names In Homicide Case

By Adriana Marroquin - October 13, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

On Oct. 13, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt granted a homicide defendant’s motion to compel prosecutors to share names and contact information for witnesses. 

Duron Hudson, 22, is charged with second-degree murder while armed – offenses committed during release, and robbery offenses committed during release, for his alleged involvement in the death of Nahzil Zaid Abdul Rahim on Nov. 29, 2019, on the 1200 block of U Street, NW. 

On Sept. 20, Varsha Govindaraju and Mani Golzari, Hudson’s defense attorneys, filed a motion to compel production of witness names and contact information, arguing that the prosecutors have not disclosed any contact information or names for witnesses that were present during the incident in 2019, for which Hudson was not charged with until 2023, almost four years later. 

Govindaraju and Golzari argued they are unable to thoroughly investigate the case if they don’t have witness names and contact information they need to represent Hudson fairly. 

Prosecutors opposed the motion without publicly explaining why.

Judge Brandt argued that the defense is “starting off at a huge disadvantage” in this case because the incident occurred almost four years ago. She stated that “names are needed to be turned over for fundamental fairness,” arguing that the witnesses would not be endangered if their information is shared with the defense due to a protective order that requires the defense attorneys withhold the witnesses’ identifying information from Hudson. 

Judge Brandt ordered prosecutors to disclose the names and contact information to the defense by the end of the business day on Oct. 13. 

Parties are expected back for a detention hearing on Dec. 20.