Judge Stresses Filing On Time to Prevent Delay in Murder Trial  

By Natalie Tarby [former] - October 11, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt stressed the importance of filing motions on time to prevent a delay in trial. 

Co-defendants Maurice Johnson, 23, and 21-year-old Jermaine Harris are charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection to the shooting death of 38-year-old Lamar Walters on 2400 block of Franklin Street, NE on Jan. 6, 2020. 

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers arrived on scene and found Walters suffering from several gunshot wounds. Walters was transported to the hospital but later succumbed to his injuries. 

During an Oct. 11 hearing, Harris’ defense attorney, Jonathan Zucker, told Judge Brandt that he expects to file a motion because he has suspicion that the prosecution is withholding evidence from the defense.

Johnson’s defense attorneys, Jason Clark and Thomas Key, expressed their frustration towards the prosecution as well as the delays with counsel sharing documents with the defense. 

With the trial scheduled to start on Dec. 5, Judge Brandt made clear to both parties that motions need to be filed by the end of next week in order to prevent the trial date from getting pushed back. 

The next hearing is scheduled for Nov. 17.