Lack of Manpower Warrants No Sympathy from Judge During Hearing in Homicide Case

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“So cry me a river,” said DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt over the prosecutor’s explanation of an understaffed office to request a continuance of trial.

Brian Wooden, 32, is charged with two counts of first-degree cruelty to children and two counts of felony murder in connection to the death of one-year-old Carter Sanders on May 26, 2018, on the 4700 block of Benning Road, SE.

Wooden’s defense attorney, Marnitta King, raised concern over the prosecution’s request for a trial continuance. King explained that her expert witness, flying in from California, may not be available at a later date.

The prosecutor on the case explained to the judge that she is the only person in her office that prosecutes cases involving babies.

“You guys have got to find some more manpower,” Judge Brandt said, explaining that DC Superior Court is down 14 judges and by 2023 might be down 20 judges.

During the Nov. 2 hearing, Judge Brandt was made aware that Wooden, as of last week, was being held at DC Jail for another case.

Wooden had been on supervised release since 2019. King made it clear that she doesn’t want the trial date to be pushed back since her client is now being held.

A status hearing has been scheduled for Nov. 30 to discuss keeping the same April trial date or moving the trial to June 2023.

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