Murder Defendant Requests New Counsel, Postpones Trial

By D.C. Witness Staff - September 30, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

For the second time in a year, a murder  defendant filed a motion for his defense counsel to withdraw. 

Edward Hampton Brown, 57, is charged with robbery while armed of a senior citizen and first-degree murder while armed of a senior citizen for his alleged involvement in the murder of Michael Mahoney, 71. 

Brown allegedly stabbed Mahoney on the 2300 block of 11th Street, NW on Feb. 5, 2018.

On Sept. 30, which was scheduled to be the beginning of jury selection, Brown requested his counsel, Kevin Irving and Errin Scialpi, to be withdrawn from the case before the trial could begin.

DC Superior Court Judge Milton C. Lee granted the request, saying that although he did not want to go into specifics, the relationship between Brown and his lawyers was not working. 

“It’s going to take me a few days to find a lawyer,” Judge Lee said. Judge Lee said that he hoped the delay would not be long.

The prosecution told the judge that this is Brown’s second change in counsel for this case. 

According to court documents, Brown filed a motion to withdraw his previous counsel, Madalyn Harvey, on July 13, 2018, for reasons that were discussed at the bench.

The prosecution did not object to the motion to withdraw. 

A status conference is scheduled on Oct. 7.