At a status hearing on Feb. 9, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan set a trial date for a homicide case after the defendant rejected a plea deal.
Antoine Turner is charged with two counts of first-degree murder while armed in connection to the shootings of Demeitri Anderson and Demetrius Benson. On Nov. 3, 2020, Turner, 29, allegedly shot Benson, 34, on the 4500 block of Dix Street, NE. Then, on Nov. 29, 2020, Turner allegedly shot Anderson, 23, 13 times, killing him on the 4500 block of Benning Road, SE.
After the prosecution offered a plea deal of second-degree murder while armed and a 16-year sentence, Turner’s defense attorney, Matthew Davies, reported that the defendant intended to reject the offer.
The family of the victim was overheard in the courtroom expressing frustration about the plea deal. The deal would only require a 16 year sentence, which is substantially shorter than the DC code mandated 30-year minimum sentence for first-degree murder.
Judge Raffinan set the trial to begin on Oct. 21, 2024, which is expected to last for about three weeks.
The next status hearing is slated for April 12.
