Judge Grants Defense’s Motion, Postpones Murder Trial

By D.C. Witness Staff - May 24, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

On May 23, a DC Superior Court judge granted the defense’s motion for a continuance of the murder trial, pushing it back by three months.

Paul Swann is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the shooting of Adam Barker, 21, on Feb. 29, 2016. Swann, 27, is also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm due to a prior conviction. Swann’s co-defendant, Traveous Lamont Brown, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed in June.

Defense counsel said their expert will no longer be available in July, August, or September. The lawyers told Judge Ronna Lee Beck that they were concerned they would no longer be ready for trial.

Judge Beck rescheduled the trial from July 15 to Oct. 15.

The prosecution opposed the motion, arguing that the defense could simply get another expert. But, the defense said they needed to keep their specific expert because she possessed the necessary qualifications that were needed to give an informed and credible analysis of the evidence.

According to court documents, Swann and Brown, 29, engaged in a verbal argument with Barker before the shooting occurred. Barker was found by officers of the Metropolitan Police Department laying in the street, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead on March 1, 2016. Brown, who was also a suspect in the shooting, incriminated Swann during his testimony.  

D.C. Witness reported that the murder allegedly happened after Barker, 21, testified in trial of the murder of Simwone K. Milstead, his uncle.

Swann is scheduled for a motions hearing on June 14. Brown is scheduled for a status hearing on Aug. 2.