Murder Defendant in COVID Quarantine

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A murder defendant was unable to appear in court for his Oct. 5 hearing due to being in quarantine.

David Rhodes, 53, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 47-year-old Georgette Banks to death on May 10 on the 2600 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE. 

Defense attorney Joseph Wong said he was supposed to have been out of quarantine in time to attend the hearing, but his quarantine has been extended to Oct. 15.  DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee scheduled the next hearing for Oct. 18.

Wong asked that the jail provide Rhodes with the ability to attend his next hearing remotely over video if he is still unable to be physically present in court by then.

“I will inquire but I don’t want to make any promises at this time,” Judge Lee said.