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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- March 22, 2021
Court
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Daily Stories
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Documents
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Homicides
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Victims
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A DC Superior Court judge scheduled another set of trial dates for a homicide defendant after the first the original dates were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Brian Davis, 55, is charged with conspiracy and first-degree murder while armed in the death of 53-year-old Mawuli Kocuvie. On Oct. 28, 2017, Kocuvie’s body was found on the 1700 block of Benning Road, NE.
During the March 22 proceedings, parties said they expected the trial to take about two weeks.
The prosecution told Judge Juliet McKenna that one of their witnesses, the victim’s next of kin, would be flying in from out of the country.
Judge McKenna said, since the trial will happen in late 2022, parties will have plenty of time to resolve this issue among themselves. She emphasized that, because of the backlog, the court would be unlikely to grant a continuance for any small issues that would unnecessarily delay trial.
The trial is scheduled to occur July 18 through Aug. 3, 2022.
The trial is currently double booked in an occupied courtroom, but Judge McKenna said she expects more courtrooms to open up, which would allow trials to be shifted around.
Judge Mckenna also scheduled another trial readiness hearing for April 15, 2022, to allow time to follow up with counsel’s progression and make any needed adjustments.
Court documents indicate that Kocuvie was struck in the head with a mallet and choked with a bungee cord.
Another defendant, 62-year-old Samuel Davis, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection with Kocuvie’s death. He is currently waiting to be sentenced.