Case Acquitted: Jury Begins Deliberations in Murder Case

By Isabella Quink [former] - March 29, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | stabbing | Suspects | Victims |

This case was acquitted on Aug. 15, 2023.

After closing arguments on March 28, the jury began deliberations in a homicide case.

Jermaine Washington, 39, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in connection to the stabbing of Keon Terell Bonner, 40. The incident allegedly occurred on the 1500 block of Ogden Street, NW and 3500 block of Center Street, NW on Oct. 26, 2021.

Defense attorney Stephen Logerfo argued that the prosecution did not meet its burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

Logerfo noted a defense motion to suppress statements filed  March 21  regarding a conversation between Washington and two Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives at Washington’s residence on Nov. 7, 2021. 

He questioned why an officer with a body-worn camera that could have recorded the conversation did not accompany the detective when he visited Washington. Logerfo restated the problematic nature of the unrecorded conversation in his closing statement. 

He also discussed the lack of physical evidence in the case. A knife that appeared consistent with the one used to stab Bonner was found on Washington when he was arrested. 

However, there was no conclusive evidence of whose blood was on the knife or if that was the exact knife that killed Bonner.

Eyewitness testimony was the only evidence that tied Washington to the alley where Bonner was stabbed, and witnesses only gave a general description that was similar to Washington’s appearance.

The prosecution argued that Washington was the only probable assailant because he was seen on surveillance footage walking out of an apartment complex with Bonner eleven minutes before the stabbing. The prosecutor also stated that  witness descriptions fit Washington.

The jury has begun deliberations and is scheduled to continue deliberating on March 29.