Lawyers argue over evidence for Dwayne Grandson murder trial

By D.C. Witness Staff - April 7, 2017
Court | Homicides | Suspects |

Lawyers went head to head in court Thursday over evidence related to the motive in the Dwayne Grandson murder trial set to begin next week.

Grandson, 24, was killed in November 2015 after gunshots rang out on the 2500 block of Pennsylvania Ave., SE.

According to police, officers found both Grandson and 25-year-old Clifton Johnson suffering from gunshot wounds. Grandson succumbed to his injuries shortly after, and following his death Johnson was arrested and charged for Grandson’s first-degree murder.

In court Thursday, Johnson’s attorney, Harry Tun, said he will argue self-defense,  and plans to call four witnesses to the stand.

The prosecution rebuffed that if Tun were to build a case around self-defense then he would be inclined to bring up motive evidence, which was previously disclosed. However, as pointed out by Judge Judith Bartnoff there is more motive evidence.

The defense argued the additional evidence lacked relevancy. Meanwhile, the prosecution argued that the additional evidence makes his case stronger and pointed out that the additional evidence isn’t necessarily “new,” though he didn’t shed light on that aspect of his argument because he asked to approach the bench.

Both attorney’s took turns approaching the bench for a prolonged amount of time, and eventually both were called simultaneously until Judge Bartnoff decided to pass the case for a brief period of time.

Once the case was recalled the defense said his client, Johnson, still wanted to go to trial to which Judge Bartnoff accepted.

Johnson is expected in court April 17 for the start of his trial. He is being held without bond.