Murder Trial May Proceed Without Defendant After Ninth No-Show

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When the defendant in an ongoing murder case failed to appear in court for the ninth time on June 27, DC Su perior Court Judge Michael Ryan said his trial, scheduled to begin Sept. 2, will go ahead with or without him.

Marquis Bullocks, 31, is charged with two counts of first-degree premeditated murder while armed, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill while armed, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, threat to kidnap or injure a person, and obstruction of justice. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 31-year-old Michael Pate and 28-year-old Djuan Proctor on the 2200 block of Savannah Terrace, SE, on Sept. 18, 2021.

Judge Ryan asked Bullocks’ defense attorney, David Akulian, why he has not been able to maintain contact. Akulian said he has had difficulty seeing his client in person at the DC Jail, and he is worried about what will happen when the case gets to trial.

“I am going to have a number of questions to ask him,” Judge Ryan said about Bullocks. He said Bullocks’ degree of court avoidance was unique, consisting of almost a dozen absences in the space of one year.

Judge Ryan said he would consider waiving Bullock’s presence at trial if he could obtain Bullock’s consent to do so. Akulian said he would discuss that option with Bullocks.

The prosecution suggested the court respond to Bullocks’ absences by issuing a forthwith order for Bullocks to appear or allowing Bullocks to appear remotely from the jail.

Judge Ryan told Akulian that Bullocks must appear in court before the start of his trial on Sept. 2.

“If we have to, we will,” Judge Ryan said about the possibility of going to trial without Bullocks present.

Parties are slated to reconvene July 15.