Murder Defendant Waives Right to Test Prosecution’s DNA Evidence

By Graham Krewinghaus [former] - September 27, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A homicide defendant declined to test the prosecution’s evidence during a Sept. 27 status hearing. 

Clifton Browne, 58, is charged with second-degree murder in conncection to the deadly beating of 76-year-old Luther Brooks on the 1300 block of Kalmia Road, NW on Sept. 27, 2021. Browne was the nephew of Brooks’ landlord. 

During the Tuesday hearing, the prosecutor informed DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo that he did not plan to test DNA, nor ask for an additional hearing to present DNA test results.

Defense attorney Lisbeth Saperstein said the defense was prepared for an additional hearing to discuss testing, but did not request one themselves, either.

According to court documents, one of Browne’s close relatives told police that Browne was at the location to do work around their house. Brooks lived in the apartment downstairs from them but was expected to leave within the week. He was “draggin’ his feet,” the relative said. Browne said he’d talk to Brooks to try to move the process along.

The witness heard the two begin to argue, and Brooks hit Browne with a long stick, according to court documents. Browne pursued him and hit him multiple times. When the witness separated the two, Brooks was speaking “incoherently.”

Browne tried to bring Brooks outside, dragging him out from the basement apartment, the documents report. When he stopped and propped Brooks on the stairs, Brooks reportedly fell backward down the stairs, striking his head on the concrete.

Brooks was hospitalized and pronounced dead on Oct. 8, 2021.

When homicide detectives interviewed Browne, he did not mention arguing before Brooks hit him with the stick, and he did not mention the fall down the stairs. According to court documents, he did admit that he “went berserk on him,” punching Brooks in the head and chest.

The parties are scheduled to reconvene on Dec. 9 for a status hearing. A jury trial is scheduled to begin on Jan. 9, 2023.