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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- May 14, 2019
Court
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Homicides
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A DC Superior Court judge denied defense counsel’s request to release a defendant who previously worked for the Metropolitan Police Department.
Ronnika Jennings is charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and obstruction of justice for her alleged involvement in the shooting of Andrew McPhatter on the 3500 block of Wheeler Road, SE in 2017. Jennings’ co-defendants include Duan Hill and Marshay Hazelwood, who are charged with conspiracy and obstruction of justice, and Derek Turner, who is charged with first-degree murder while armed.
During the status hearing May 13, Judge Craig Iscoe ruled on defense counsel’s bond review motion, saying Jennings’ knowledge of the legal system and willingness to interfere with law enforcement left no safe conditions for release. The motion was brought up during a status hearing on April 30.
The judge’s ruling coincided with the prosecution’s theory, stating that Jennings is a danger to the community because of her knowledge with Metropolitan Police Department procedures and her ability to gain access to legal information to aid violent criminals.
Even though the defense says that Jennings wasn’t a danger because she is no longer employed at MPD and has not had any contact with any member of the Wahler Place crew, the judge said the defense’s argument was not a rebuttal to the fact that Jennings could still pose a danger to the community.
The Washington Post reported that Jennings’ defense attorney, Dorsey Jones, said Jennings was only doing her job when she accessed police files. He bought the notion up again during the status hearing on May 13.
According to court documents, Jennings allegedly contacted Turner, who was a member of the Wahler Place neighborhood crew. He is charged with allegedly shooting McPhatter, who was a member of the Trenton Park neighborhood. Apparently, the two neighborhoods were revivals.
Documents also state that Jennings accessed police files 35 times and talked with Wahler Place associates 85 times.
Jennings, Hill, Turner and Hazelwood are scheduled for a status hearing on July 12. They are slated to begin trial on March 23, 2020.