Murder Defendant Rejects What May Be His Only Plea Deal

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On Nov. 30, a murder defendant rejected a plea agreement, which the prosecution said may be their only offer.

Malcolm Cunningham, 23, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and burglary for allegedly stabbing 79-year-old David Norwood on the 600 block of C Street, NE in 2017.

Cunningham’s lawyer rejected the plea on his client’s behalf and said they want to review a report regarding the defendant’s mental competency before entering plea negotiations.

The plea would have downgraded Cunningham’s first-degree murder charge to second-degree murder while armed and dropped the remaining burglary charge. Per the terms of the plea agreement, Cunningham could have received a maximum sentence of 18 years in prison.

Cunningham is scheduled for a mental observation hearing on Feb. 12, 2019.