Judge Says He Will Not Declare Mistrial in Murder of Transgender Woman

By D.C. Witness Staff - February 6, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

During a murder trial Feb. 5, a judge said a witness’s testimony was prejudicial, but he would not declare a mistrial.

Jalonte Little and Monte Johnson are charged with felony murder while armed and armed robbery, among other offenses, for allegedly shooting 22-year-old Deeniquia Dodds on the 200 block of Division Street, NE in 2016. Prosecutors are treating the homicide as a hate crime.

As part of his response to the defense’s motion for a mistrial, D.C. Superior Court Judge Milton Lee instructed the jury to disregard the witness’s comment about a robbery. 

Judge Lee also said he has not decided about what to do regarding the prosecution’s statements. He said he would likely strike the testimony altogether or include it with the condition that the prosecution not mention the testimony during closing arguments.

The judge said he would make an official ruling on Feb. 6.

D.C. Witness previously reported that a witness, who is a transgender woman, said Feb. 4 that she was targeted by Little while walking home from work. She said she refused to have sex with him and that is when Little pointed a gun at her and told her to strip.The witness inadvertently referred to the incident as a “robbery.”

Also, while reading grand jury testimony, a prosecutor used the word “robbery” to describe the same event. To prevent prejudice, the witness and counsel were instructed, before the woman’s testimony, to not use the word robbery. The prosecution theory says that Dodds’ was killed during a  series of robberies that Little, Johnson and  brothers Shareem Hall, 25, and Cyheme Hall, 23, committed. 

The Hall brothers are also charged with Dodds’ murder.