Murder Defendant Rejects Plea Offer

By D.C. Witness Staff - September 17, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

During a Sept. 17 status hearing, a murder defendant rejected a plea offer for a lesser sentence. 

Joseph Smith, 61, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the death of his 62-year-old brother, Arnold Smith, in their family home located on the 600 block of Galveston Place, SE on April 9.

Joseph Smith rejected the plea offer, which included a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter while armed. The prosecution said that under the voluntary sentencing guidelines, Smith would have served 7.5 to 15 years in prison.

According to the guidelines, a defendant convicted of second-degree murder while armed with a criminal history score between 0 and 0.5 could face a prison sentence between 12 years to 24 years.

The Tuesday morning hearing was originally scheduled to go over DNA results from testing the prosecution administered. However, the prosecution said 60 more days were needed to complete testing. 

Smith is scheduled for trial on Oct. 5. 2020.

DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson suggested that counsel could schedule more hearings before the trial if needed  because the date was far away. 

A hearing to review the DNA results is scheduled on Nov. 18.