Judge Grants Motion to Push Back 2016 Murder Trial

By D.C. Witness Staff - August 7, 2018
Court | Homicides | Suspects |

On the day a murder trial was scheduled to take place, a DC Superior Court judge pushed the trial date back in light of the possibility of new DNA evidence.

Nathaniel Taylor is charged with felony murder while armed for allegedly shooting Nuru Frenche on the 4900 block of Just Street, NE in 2016.  

Judge Juliet McKenna rescheduled the trial, which was previously slated to be held on Aug. 6, to Dec. 5 because the prosecution requested more time to retest DNA swabs. The prosecution said the swabs would be tested with upgraded equipment at a Signature Science lab to find any “useful matches” in the case. 

Taylor’s defense attorney, Antoini Jones, said the additional testing could potentially bolster the idea that there is a “third-party perpetrator.”

According to court documents, a witness saw Taylor, 25; his previous co-defendant, Anthony Blackmone; and Frenche, 23, on the street. The witness also heard someone say “give that shit up” but was not sure if that person was Taylor or Blackmone. 

Blackmone, 23, pled guilty to attempted robbery and voluntary manslaughter. In April,  Blackmone was sentenced to six years in prison. According to the prosecution, Blackmone plans to testify against Taylor.

Taylor is scheduled for a status hearing on Oct. 5.