Most Defendants Denied Release

By D.C. Witness Staff - April 14, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

Cases for eight defendants being charged with felonies were heard at the DC Superior Courthouse April 13.

All of the cases were on motions for release because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The judge denied most of the cases, rescheduling some at a later date to give lawyers more time to gather information on the defendants’ health conditions.

One of the denied cases involved Edward Banks, a murder defendant who is suing, along with four other inmates, the DC Department of Corrections on how it is handling inmates and staff’s health and safety during the pandemic. Read more about the lawsuit, here.

Judge Anita Josey-Herring also denied Roscoe Jones case on April 13. However, she said she would rehear the defense’s argument on April 15 in order to give Jones’ attorney more time to gather more information on his condition to support his motion for release during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jones is charged with assault with intent to kill with a sharp object, assault with significant bodily injury, assault with a dangerous weapon (sharp object), assault with significant bodily injury while armed with a sharp object, unlawful possession of contraband in a penal institution and destruction of property less than $1000.