Judge Rules on Evidence in Murder Case

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On Feb. 5, DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe ruled on several prosecution motions to introduce evidence before selecting a jury for a homicide trial.

Terrell Poe, 37, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a prior convict, for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 30-year-old Christopher Washington on Sept. 23, 2020, on the 400 block of Southern Avenue, SE.

During the hearing, Judge O’Keefe addressed a pending prosecution motion to introduce a sticker image of a bottle of D’Usse cognac which appears on a picture of a gun on Poe’s phone.

At a previous hearing, the prosecution argued the image is significant because D’Usse stickers were also found on the vehicle allegedly used to commit the crime.

However, Poe’s defense attorney, Marnitta King, argued the symbol is not relevant because it’s trendy and not unique.

Judge O’Keefe allowed the prosecution to introduce the sticker image but redacted so it’s only seen without the gun visible in the background.

Judge O’Keefe allowed the victim’s mother to make limited testimony for the prosecution.

However, the judge denied prosecution requests to present an image of the victim with his two children and a video that the prosecution created, syncing the visual and audio recordings made by ShotSpotter technology of the incident.

However, that evidence may be presented at a later hearing.

Meanwhile the jury has been selected and opening statements are expected to begin Feb. 6.

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