Judge Schedules Another Hearing for Convicted Murder Defendant

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A DC Superior Court Judge scheduled a post disposition status hearing for a defendant who was convicted of murder in 2015.

Erik Postell, 32, was sentenced to 40 years in prison for fatally shooting 24 year-old Paul Danzo Tanoh outside a nightclub on March 21, 2013. The jury found him guilty of first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business.

Postell, 32, is currently in the process of appealing his case.

During the Nov. 6 hearing, Judge Lynn Leibovitz checked in with the prosecution and the defense to see how they wanted to proceed with the case. The prosecution had not completed their cross-examination of the defense’s witnesses in the last evidentiary hearing.

After establishing the status of the witnesses, defense attorney David Benowitz requested another status hearing to give himself more time to prepare for continuing the evidentiary hearing.

Judge Leibovitz scheduled it for Jan. 8.

This is Postell’s second murder in the District of Columbia. As a juvenile, he shot 16-year-old bystander Devin Fowlkes, during a gang shoot-out outside Anacostia High School on Oct. 30, 2003. He was tried as a juvenile for the offense.

Sierra Robbins wrote this article.

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