Judge Shortens Time for Jury Selection, Pushes Trial Earlier

By D.C. Witness Staff - March 18, 2021
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A DC Superior Court judge was able to extend trial dates by six days and moved the start date to an early time.

Derek Turner, 29, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the death of 28-year-old Andrew McPhatter. On March 1, 2017, McPhatter was found on the 3500 block of Wheeler Road, SE suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He succumbed to his injuries four days later.

Turner’s co-defendant, former civillian Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) member Ronnika Jennings, 42, is also charged with first-degree murder while armed in McPhatter’s death. She is accused of disseminating classified MPD information to Turner that helped him evade arrest and hindered investigations. 

Turner is also charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 24-year-old Devin Hall on Jan. 7, 2017, on the 3500 block of 6th Street, SE. 

During the March 18 hearing, Judge Juliet McKenna vacated one of four jury selection dates and effectively shifted trial dates so that the trial is now projected to take place from Aug. 18 through Oct. 14, 2022, rather than Aug. 6 through Oct. 21.

She also scheduled three consecutive dates for pretrial motions after parties determined the shift created scheduling issues with their previously selected dates.

D.C. Witness previously reported that the prosecution expects to call 90-95 witnesses during the trial,

Turner has 30 additional charges that consist of a third first-degree murder charge, conspiracy, assault with intent to kill while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Jennings has 31 additional charges that consist of conspiracy, accessory after the fact, assault with intent to kill while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.

The first pretrial motion hearing is scheduled for Oct. 29.