A judge granted the defense a trial continuance in light of new discovery about a key witness.
Chad Everette Hawthorne is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the death of 35-year-old Antonio Bassett on the 3900 block of Pennsylvania Ave., SE on May 22, 2017.
Defense counsel, Steven Kiersh, said he just received notice that the prosecution’s most critical witness received a mental health diagnosis.
Kiersh said he needed more time to request a forensic psychiatrist, find medical records that are being held in a discrete location and figure how much, if any, treatment had been received by the witness.
Kiersh also said he had a psychiatrist in mind but was unsure of a timeline.
He also said he didn’t believe the prosecution withheld evidence from him and that everything has been turned over in a timely manner.
The prosecution did not object to the continuance.
DC Superior Court Judge Juliet McKenna granted the continuance.
Trial is now scheduled on Oct. 26, 2020. It was originally scheduled on Oct. 15.
Hawthorne is being held without bail
