Murder Case to be Retried

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Less than two weeks after jurors in a murder trial delivered a partial verdict, a DC Superior Court judge set a retrial date.

Marquette Jordan is accused of stabbing 40-year-old Ivan Lynch to death on April 28, 2018, in an apartment on the 900 block of 5th Street, SE. Jordan, 30, was charged with first-degree murder while armed, armed robbery, carrying a dangerous weapon and simple assault. The jury found him not guilty of armed robbery and first-degree murder while armed but could not make a decision on the other charges or the lesser-included homicide offenses.

During the most recent hearing for this case on April 26, the prosecution told Judge Rainey Brandt they plan to retry the case on charges of second-degree murder while armed, carrying a dangerous weapon and simple assault. The trial is expected to last two weeks.

Jordan urged his lawyer, Elliot Queen, to ask Judge Brandt to recuse herself from the case, believing her to be biased against him. Judge Brandt denied the request.

“Mr. Jordan has contributed to the court’s aggravation and tone because he can’t sit like an adult who is on trial for his liberties,” Queen said.

Queen requested Jordan’s release into home confinement, given that he has been acquitted of the most serious charge he faced. Prosecutors opposed the request, saying the defendant has a previous aggravated assault conviction, has been involved in multiple incidents at the DC Jail and is a flight risk.

Judge Brandt told Queen she would look over a written bond review motion before making a decision.

A motion hearing is scheduled for Aug. 10. with the trial beginning on Aug. 16.