Judge Sets Hearing to Discuss Defense’s Motion to Dismiss Indictment in Murder Case

By D.C. Witness Staff - June 4, 2021
Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A DC Superior Court judge gave a prosecutor in a murder case a deadline to respond to the defense’s motion to dismiss the grand jury indictment. 

Joseph Brown, 31, and Rondell McLeod, 28, are charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection with the shootings of Amari Jenkins, 21, on Aug. 18, 2015, on the 4900 block of East Capitol Street, SE, and Antwan Baker, 29, on Nov. 12, 2015, on the 5300 block of Clay Terrace, NE.

The two were indicted as co-defendants, but their cases went on to be severed due to errors with ballistic evidence. Those errors caused incorrect information to be presented to a grand jury. McLeod’s attorney, Steven Keirsch, motioned to dismiss the indictment. Brown’s attorney, Brian McDaniel, joined the motion.

Judge Lee Milton gave the prosecution until July 9 to file their response to the  motion. He gave the defense until Aug. 9 to respond to the prosecution.

Alicia McCoy is charged with obstruction of justice and perjury in connection with Baker’s homicide. She is currently on pretrial release with GPS monitoring. 

During the June 2 hearing, Judge Milton denied her attorney, Rachel McCoy’s, request to remove her client’s GPS. 

Parties will reconvene to discuss the motion on Sept. 24.

Mara Osterburg and Abby Lloyd wrote this article.