Last of Three Carjacking Defendants Waives Preliminary Hearing

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A defendant in an armed carjacking waived her right to a preliminary hearing in the presence of her two co-defendants during a joint hearing on Nov. 8 in front of DC Superior Court Judge Robert Hildum.

Kevin Edwards, 17, Keiphone Bennett, 17, and Asia Clark, 17, are charged with armed carjacking, robbery while armed, and two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for their alleged involvement in an incident that forced two complainants out of their vehicle on the 4500 block of Benning Road, SE, on April 19.

Before Clark waived her preliminary hearing, her attorney, Varsha Govindaraju, argued to Judge Hildum that there wasn’t adequate basis to find probable cause and he should release Clark. He rejected her arguments.

Edwards and Bennet had already waived their rights to a preliminary hearing. Their reason for appearing in court, according to Edwards’ defense attorney, Chantal Jean-Baptiste, was they were “along for the ride.” 

All parties are set to reconvene on Dec. 4 in front of DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe.