Judge Releases Murder Defendant

By D.C. Witness Staff - December 27, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

A DC Superior Court Judge released a murder defendant on Dec. 20.

Terell Kevonte Blackman and 25-year-old Devin Hill are charged with first-degree murder while armed. Hill is also charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for their involvement in the death of 28 year-old Michael Cunningham on Nov. 29.

Steven Kiersh, Blackman’s, attorney said that the prosecution’s evidence showed that Blackman was not the shooter and was actually the driver of the car.

Kiersh also said that Blackman, 25, had no criminal past and completed high school and college and deserved to be released because he had a supportive family that would ensure his compliance.

The prosecution said that even though Blackman wasn’t the shooter, he drove the car around the crime scene, “a few times” looking for the victim. He let the shooter out and picked him up after the killing, concluding that Blackman was a danger to the community.

Judge Ronna Beck said that based on his involvement and his minimal criminal history she would release him into the High Intensity Supervision Program. Blackman is required to wear a GPS monitoring device, according to a release order that was filed o Dec. 20.

Blackman’s preliminary hearing is scheduled to occur on Jan. 10, 2020 along with Hill.