Judge Vacates Trial Date Due to Co-Defendant Requesting New Counsel

By Khaleemah Rashid-Miggins [former] , Christopher Sivak [former], Aerial Lopez [former] - February 14, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun vacated a trial scheduled on March 21 due to one of three co-defendants requesting new counsel.

Raymond Avent, 23, Tyler Stringfield, 24, and Keith Baham, 23, are being held for allegedly murdering Rafiq Hawkins, 23, on March 23, 2019, on the 1200 block of Brentwood Road, NE.

Avent, Baham, and Stringfield are charged with first-degree murder while armed, conspiracy, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence,  two counts of carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business,  two counts of possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device,  two counts of possession of an unregistered firearm, two counts of unlawful possession of ammunition, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle, unauthorized use of a vehicle, fleeing a law enforcement officer, destruction of property less than $1000, two counts of destruction of property $1000 or more, and leaving after colliding with property damage or injury to an animal while armed.

Baham is also charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm due to a prior conviction.

During the Feb. 14 status hearing, defense attorney Anne-Marie Moore motioned to withdraw as counsel. Moore said she was unable to maintain a respectful relationship with Baham.

Judge Okun granted the defense’s request to withdraw under the condition that the defense waits until a new counsel is appointed for her to resign. 

In an effort to obtain new counsel for Baham, Judge Okun requested that the prosecution provide him with a list of attorneys that would prove themselves to have a conflict of interest. 

The most notable of these attorneys worked previously for Dante Hicks, the fourth codefendant in this case. 

Hicks was killed on Nov. 25, 2019, before he could stand trial. 

Judge Okun also said he was under the impression that a plea deal would be reviewed today to determine whether the defendants accepted or rejected it. 

Defense attorney Russell Hairston, who also represented Bahamas, said his client just got word of his plea deal. Hairston requested more time for Baham to look over and consider the proposed deal. During the hearing, no specific terms of the deal were discussed.

There was no contest from the prosecution, and all three plea deals have been extended until the next status hearing. 

A status hearing was scheduled for March 20.