Judge Releases Defendant in Homicide Case After Determining Eligibility

By Hunter Fernandez [former] - February 16, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | stabbing | Suspects | Victims |

During a felony status conference on Feb. 16, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan released the defendant in a homicide case after his eligibility for the high-intensity supervision program (HISP) and house arrest were determined. 

Julian Ruffin is charged with second-degree murder for allegedly stabbing 38-year-old Alphonso Lee on Oct. 7, 2022, on the 1500 block of Butler Street, SE. According to Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) records, Ruffin and Lee got into an altercation surrounding the ownership of the defendant’s car. After Lee followed him into his home and punched him, Ruffin allegedly ”lost his mind” and stabbed Lee. 

In a preliminary hearing on Feb. 15, Judge Raffinan accepted the defense’s request that Ruffin is released on 21-day home confinement and then transferred to HISP. However, his eligibility for the program had to be determined before the defendant could be released.

At the hearing on Feb. 16, Judge Raffinan announced that Ruffin, 32, was indeed eligible for home confinement and HISP. 

After the 21-day period has concluded, Ruffin will remain released under HISP with a curfew and a GPS monitoring device. The prosecution did not propose any further conditions for Ruffin’s release.

The next status hearing is slated for April 24.