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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- February 29, 2020
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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stabbing
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Suspects
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Victims
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A judge suspended part of a murder defendant’s sentence on Feb. 28.
Malcom Cunningham, 24, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed for stabbing 79-year-old David Norwood multiple times on the 600 block of C St, NE on April 16, 2017.
During a sentencing on Feb. 28, DC Superior Court Judge Ronna Lee Beck suspended part of Cunningham’s sentence. She sentenced him to 18 years in prison with three years of his sentence suspended.
At the time of the murder, Cunningham was staying with his grandmother a few blocks away from where Norwood lived. Apparently, Cunningham lived at Norwood’s house, however he was asked to leave a week before the murder.
On April 16, 2017, Cunningham traveled to Norwood’s house. According to the prosecution’s theory, Cunningham was angry that he couldn’t get all of his stuff even though his grandmother was under the assumption that all of Cunningham’s belongings had been moved out.
At the time of the incident, Cunningham was dealing with Schizophrenia, the prosecution said. He was not getting treatment.
“Malcom was accusing people of things he believed happened, even though everybody knew they did not happen,” defense attorney, David Knight, told the judge.
Knight said that Cunningham would rather go to prison than put any of his family members through the experience of going to trial.
“I hope that they will find it in their true heart to forgive me,” Cunningham said.
He said he hopes to one day become an architect. He will continue to take his medication and focus on his goals during his sentence.
After his sentence is completed, Cunningham will be required to serve five years on supervised release with additional conditions, including mental health treatment, substance abuse assessment & treatment, vocational, educational and employment programs as directed by CSOSA, and supervision by the Mental Health Unit of CSOSA.