Judge Sets New Trial Date for Murder Defendant

By D.C. Witness Staff - April 24, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

A DC Superior Court judge granted the defense’s motion and pushed back the trial date for a defendant accused of fatally beating and shooting  a man in Northeast DC.

Tavon Davis is charged with first-degree murder while armed and obstruction of justice, among other charges, for his alleged role in the death of 29-year-old Michael Vest on the 1300 block of Trinidad Avenue, NE in 2017.

Davis, 24, is now scheduled to go to trial on Feb. 3, 2020. His trial was originally scheduled to begin on May 15.

Defense attorney, Matthew Davies, notified the court April 19 that he and the prosecution resolved issues regarding items he planned to test for DNA. However, he said the testing would create a delay and therefore he would need additional time to be prepared to go to trial. 

According to DC Courts, Davies filed a motion to push back the trial date on April 16.

Davies also said he was not sure if Davis would accept a plea offer from the prosecution. According to DC Courts, a plea agreement has not been filed as of April 22.

According to court documents, Vest was found unconscious by police with multiple wounds on his head and face. Apparently, Vest’s body was propped in a chair on a front porch with pieces of wood in his hair, which police believe is evidence the victim was struck with a bat.

Documents state that police found a piece of paper with “Tavon Clayton-Davis” written on it near the crime scene. A witness also told police that Davis confessed to beating Vest with a stick and shooting him five times.

Davis is scheduled for a status hearing on May 13.