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D.C. Witness Staff
- December 13, 2018
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On Dec. 13, a DC Superior Court judge rescheduled a murder trial so that the defense could conduct DNA testing.
Leonard Smith is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing Leonte Butler on the 4000 block of South Capitol St., SE in 2017. Smith was initially charged with second-degree murder while armed.
The new trial date was moved from Jan. 22, 2019, to Nov. 12, 2019. The January date was converted to a status hearing.
Defense attorney Dinah Manning said she will conduct a separate testing on some items after receiving the prosecution’s DNA results. The items to be tested were not specified.
According to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of the District of Columbia, Butler suffered from multiple stab wounds to the head and torso. Court documents said the stabbings occurred because Butler hit Smith, who was “continuously teasing” him about his speech impairment.
Counsel said the trial is expected to last five days.
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