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By
Raina Bonifacio
- February 13, 2025
Daily Stories
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Robbery
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Shooting
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Suspects
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Victims
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DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman denied a murder defendant’s motions calling for bond review and release during a hearing on Jan. 17.
Corde Fitzhugh, 25, is charged with two counts of premeditated first-degree murder, five counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, two counts of attempted robbery, robbery while armed, and two counts of carrying a pistol without a license, for his alleged involvement in the shootings of Muntsier Sharfi, 24, on July 8, 2021 and Zekariya Elmi, 26, on April 25, 2022.
According to court documents, the victims, Sharfi and Elmi, were both scheduled to meet a potential marijuana buyer. They were shot and killed at the delivery locations, the 3300 block of Erie Avenue, SE and 1200 block of Farragut Place, NE.
During the hearing, Fitzhugh’s attorney, Erin Griffard, highlighted Fitzhugh’s conduct in jail, as she requested his release pending further proceedings. She said the defendant participated in the Georgetown Prison Scholars Program and received a letter of support from a corporal from the DC jail.
Despite Judge Edelman acknowledging Fitzhugh’s efforts, he denied the motion, given the serious nature of the offenses. He appreciated the defendant’s conduct, but Judge Edelman stated he was not convinced a detention modification would ensure the safety of the community.
Rejecting the defendant’s emergency motion for release based on jail conditions, Judge Edelman cited precedent and practicality noting, “Every prisoner would need to be released” if jail conditions alone were the rationale, effectively dismantling the entire pretrial detention system.
Judge Edelman emphasized that these circumstances closely resembled standard grievances about detention conditions rather than an unprecedented emergency. Crucially, the court determined that the appropriate venue for addressing concerns about jail conditions lies in civil litigation, not within criminal proceedings.
Judge Edelman denied both motions.
Parties are slated to reconvene June 13.