On Aug. 21, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt found probable cause that Roshella Williams was the perpetrator in a homicide.
Williams, 49, also known as Dianne Williams, is charged with second-degree murder for allegedly setting fire to a vehicle that was occupied by 64-year-old Derek Hamilton and three other individuals, including two underage children. The incident occurred on the 3900 block of 4th Street, SE, on May 29. Hamilton succumbed to his injuries on June 1.
Prosecutors called forth a detective from the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Homicide Branch Arson Task Force to testify regarding his involvement in the investigation.
According to MPD documents, which the detective adopted as part of his testimony, Williams approached Hamilton’s vehicle while it was parked outside of a residential building carrying a cup filled with a liquid that was later identified as gasoline.
She allegedly approached the driver’s side of the vehicle, threw the cup through the driver’s side open window on Hamilton, and lit him on fire. According to an eyewitness who was in the vehicle with Hamilton, Williams told Hamilton “this is what you get for calling the police,” as she set him on fire.
In surveillance footage shown in court, a figure wearing light colored clothing and a black cap is seen approaching the vehicle, setting it on fire, and walking away for a few seconds before returning to the area.
Body-worn camera footage from the day of the incident shows Williams, dressed in a white shirt, tan pants, and black hat, approach a MPD officer saying “I did it, I did it, go ahead and lock me up” while putting her hands behind her back as to tell them to handcuff her.
According to the detective, in a conversation with MPD officers while she was in the back of a cruiser, Williams told officers “it’s not over, his daughter is next. You can tell the judge that”. The conversation was captured in body-worn camera footage and shown in court, but it is incomprehensible due to noise coming from the scene.
Kevin Mosley and Terrence Austin, defense attorneys for Williams, argued that Williams’ statement in the back of the cruiser should not have any weight on the probable cause ruling because it is the prosecutor’s and the detective’s interpretation, stating that it is extremely hard to hear what Williams actually said.
Defense attorneys also argued that when Williams returned to the vehicle, after setting it on fire, it was to render aid to the inhabitants.
Judge Brandt quickly shut down the defense’s arguments that Williams was trying to help. “She is casually standing around watching as the car burns,” argued Judge Brandt, citing various surveillance camera videos shown in court.
Following the testimony, Judge Brandt alerted parties that she found probable cause that Williams was the individual that set the car and Hamilton on fire and killed him.
“The vehicle was engulfed in flames. [Hamilton] suffered second and third-degree burns to 52 percent of his body and succumbed to those injuries,” insisted Brandt.
Following the probable cause ruling, Williams’ defense attorneys requested she be released as she awaits trial, arguing that she has a good job, a great support system, and an apartment where she can continue to reside.
Prosecutors opposed the request, stating that Williams’ comment about Hamilton’s daughter being next raises concerns for the safety of Hamilton’s family and the community.
Judge Brandt denied the motion for release, stating that the nature and circumstances of the case were grave, and Williams remains a threat to Hamilton’s family and the community.
Parties are set to return on Sept. 22.
