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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- April 16, 2018
Court
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Homicides
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Suspects
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On April 12, about a week and a half after Vernon Hedrick‘s murder trial began, a jury found him not guilty for the shooting death of Titus Jackson.
According to the defense, the prosecution charged the wrong man with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly killing the 26-year-old on Sept. 11, 2014, on the 5200 block of Clay Street, NE.
Hedrick’s attorney, Rosemary Szanyi, said one of the prosecution’s witnesses told detectives multiple stories over the course of three interviews, which showed he was actually the killer.
The witness allegedly said “I can’t go to jail, I’m too young,” after the shooting because he feared he would be charged with murder. Even though the witness was at the scene of the crime, he was not arrested on any charges.
The defense also placed doubt in the minds of jurors by accusing detectives of malpractice for losing the recording of the witness’ final interview with the homicide unit of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Szanyi said Hedrick, who was 25 at the time, had no reason to kill Jackson, noting the prosecution never provided a motive. In addition, physical evidence was never recovered despite the fact that police searched Hedrick and his girlfriend’s residences.
The prosecution argued Hedrick was guilty because he was captured on video allegedly following Jackson and “luring” him into an alley.
Prosecutors also presented videos, captured on multiple cameras, allegedly showing Hedrick making a U-turn and fleeing the crime scene in a truck. However, the defense said because the turn wasn’t captured on camera, it was only an assumption.
Hedrick is still being held, pending sentencing on two convictions. He pled guilty to an aggravated assault incident in 2015 and to an assault with significant bodily injury incident in 2014. Hedrick is scheduled for a status hearing on May 10 for both cases.