Judge Grants Prosecution’s Request to Delay 2021 Homicide Trial to 2025

By Payton Anderson , Rohan Naval , McKenna Bryant - February 21, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On Feb. 21, DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun accepted a prosecutor’s request to postpone the trial for a murder case until July of 2025. 

Malik Seltzer, 23, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm for his alleged role in the killing of 37-year-old Paris Odemns on Sept. 15, 2021, on the 4000 Block of 1st Street, SE.

The prosecution presented their request at Seltzer’s status hearing claiming a key witness would be unavailable to testify during the original trial date. The prosecution said without this witness,they would feel “forced to move forward.” 

The prosecution argued that since Seltzer was already serving a five-year sentence for an armed robbery from 2021, this delay would not lead to him being held unfairly. 

“I’m still waiting on a reason on why they can’t move forward,” defense attorney Kevann Gardner said. He added that the prosecution should “provide some type of explanation.”

Gardner countered that the prosecution could simply stipulate any testimony from the witness and that it is unfair to push the trial date back. 

“These are not hard problems to solve,” Gardner said. “Seltzer should not have to wait another year for his trial.” 

The prosecution stated the testimony provided by the witness was exclusive, and could not be stated by anyone else. They added that the witness will be on maternity leave as a reason for the absence. 

The judge granted the motion, stating there were “legitimate reasons” for the delay. He also stated that the request was “not prejudicial”, given that the defendant was already held in a different case.

“I am not going to force the [prosecution] into stipulating,” the judge said. 

Parties are slated to return on May 9, 2025.