Judge Grants Continuance in Murder Case

DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun granted a continuance to parties involved in a 2021 murder case.

Weyneice Ellis, 30, is charged with second-degree murder in connection to the stabbing of 41-year-old, Talaya Wright on the 600 block of Parkland Place, SE on Oct. 7, 2021.

During an Oct. 7 hearing, Ellis’ defense attorney, Quo Mieko Judkins, requested a continuance, saying she was awaiting mental health documents necessary to the case.

According to court documents, Ellis walked past officers from the Metropolitan Police Department bearing bloody hands and a bloody knife. The officers noticed the defendant’s hands and wrists were cut and transported her to an area hospital for treatment before arresting her that night.

Ellis and Wright allegedly engaged in an altercation at the Crown Station on the 3000 block of Martin Luther King Junior Avenue, SE earlier that day regarding their inability to panhandle there anymore, which prevented the two from collecting money to support their drug habits.

The defendant reportedly blamed Wright for this ban, creating conflict between the women.

A witness at the gas station reported that the defendant allegedly pulled out a knife and said she was going to “poke that bitch up.”

According to court documents, a witness said the women had been fighting all day. The fight allegedly began with a “tug-of-war,” with a golf club, which was retrieved from the scene.

The victim reportedly did not possess a knife or any other weapons.

Five witnesses watched the fight break out between the women, according to court documents.

Ellis and counsel are expected to return to court on Nov. 14 as they await documents assessing the defendant’s mental health. The case is pending a Grand Jury.

The defendant is being held without bail.

Judge Sentences Domestic Violence Defendant to Nine Years in Prison

On Oct. 7, DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee sentenced a domestic violence to nine-years in prison and three-years supervised release.

Brian Wesley, 47, was convicted of assault with intent to kill while armed on July 8 in connection to the stabbing of his girlfriend of six years. He was initially charged with assault with the intent to kill while armed on May 7.

“Mr. Wesley broke in and started stabbing me. The first stab I felt was in my head, the next one I felt was in my mouth,” the victim said.

According to the prosecutor, Wesley stabbed the victim over 50 times.

“This situation has impacted me severly. I have permanent back damage. I am permanently blind in my left eye, and I just got hand surgery,” the victim told the judge during her impact statement. She was wearing an eye patch on her left eye, a back brace, and a cast on her arm. “I have three kids, three little ones who looked up to Mr. Wesley as a dad.”

Wesley’s defense attorney, Carrie Weletz said he was not in the right state of mind at the time of the incident.

“I would like to apologize for the pain and the suffering I have put her through,” Wesley said. “I wasn’t in the right state of mind. I am not a violent person. All I wanted to do was be a good father to her kids and protect them. I consider myself a lover not a fighter.”

The prosecutor recommended Wesley serve 9.5-17 years in prison. He said the defendant was under the substance of phencyclidine (PCP), an hallucinogenic drug, during the crime.

Although the victim never reported prior domestic violence incidents, according to the prosecutor, she was physically abused several times throughout the 6-year relationship.

“You let drug usage take over your life. As long as you rely on PCP, you are a threat to everyone,” Judge Lee said. “You gave the good in you away to PCP. I hope finally treatment helps you.”

Along with the nine-year sentence, Wesley will also have to complete drug treatment and mental health treatment.

Expert Witnesses Connect Vehicle Evidence to Series of Shootings in Murder Trial

During an Oct. 6 homicide trial, the prosecution tried to connect vehicle evidence from separate shootings to three co-defendants.

Derek Turner, 31, and co-defendant Ronnika Jennings, 44, are charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and conspiracy in connection with the shooting of 28-year-old Andrew McPhatter on March 5, 2017, on the 3500 block of Wheeler Road, SE. Jennings is accused of sharing criminal intelligence with Turner while working as a clerk for the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

The third co-defendant Duan Hill, 33, is charged with conspiracy and obstruction of justice.

Turner is also charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 23-year-old Devin Hall on Jan. 7, 2017, on the 3500 block of 6th Street, SE.

The defendants are also allegedly connected to a non-fatal shooting that caused damage to five vehicles on March 8, 2017, on South Capitol Street, SW.

A forensic scientist at the Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) said the department processed a Gray Toyota Camry linked to the shooting of Hall on Jan. 10, 2017. The prosecution presented images of the vehicle, including pictures of the bullet holes and bullet fragments found inside the car.

The witness said fingerprints or unintentional marks caused by the friction ridges on a person’s skin were not found in the vehicle.

The witness also identified a phone that was found while processing the car.

A program manager for a company that provides engineering and defense services to the U.S. government testified about processing a handgun and a vehicle linked to the March 8, 2017 drive-by shooting. The witness said distinguishable prints could not be collected from handgun.

However, the witness said two prints of value were found on the processed vehicle, one on the passenger’s vanity mirror and another on the driver’s vanity mirror. The witness said one of those fingerprints matched Turner’s former girlfriend.

Turner’s defense attorney Michael Madden cross-examined this witness, asking about factors that can affect fingerprint examination, such as the texture of handguns, the mechanics of the trigger, and the weather.

DC Superior Court Judge Marisa J. Demeo set the trial to continue on Oct. 11.

Document: Arrest Made in Butler Street Homicide

Julian Ruffin, 31, has been arrested in connection too the murder of Alphonso Lee, 38.

Lee was found with multiple stab wounds on the 1500 block of Butler Street SE on Oct. 7, 2022

Ruffin was arrested the next day and is being charged with second-degree murder while armed.

Judge Issues Bench Warrant for Defendant who Violated Release Conditions

During an Oct. 6 hearing, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt issued a bench warrant for a homicide defendant, who is incarcerated at the Fairfax County Detention Center.

Jose Ramos, 35, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in connection to the death of 58-year-old Eduardo Cruz. Cruz was found unresponsive in a vehicle on the 4800 block of Colorado Avenue, NW on Jan. 25. Cruz later succumbed to his injuries on Jan. 29.

Ramos was to appear at the Fairfax County Courthouse for a separate assault case but was arrested on July 15, the day of his trial. Ramos was publicly intoxicated while on release at the time of his arrest.

Judge Brandt revoked his release status as his intoxication violated the terms of release.

Defense attorney, Rachel McCoy, maintained that Ramos be released under the High-Intensity Supervision Program (HISP).

The prosecution said Ramos should be incarcerated due to him being previously accused of four assaults.

“He is a danger to society,” the prosecutor said.

Judge Brandt said Ramos will be detained at the DC Jail once he returns to the district.

The next scheduled hearing is on Oct. 24.

Detective Testifies on Destruction of Murder Weapon

During an Oct. 6 motion hearing, a detective from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) was questioned on the destruction of a murder weapon in a 2017 homicide case.

Robert Moses and James Mayfield, 23, are charged with first-degree murder while armed, assault with the intent to kill while armed and aggravated assault while armed for allegedly shooting 17-year-old Jamahri Sydnor and wounding three other bystanders on Aug. 10, 2017, on the 1400 block of Saratoga Avenue, NE.

Moses, 22, was also charged with obstructing justice and committing offenses while on release for an unrelated gun charge.

The detective said one of the murder weapons was recovered at the scene, while the other was recovered in 2018, a year after the crime occurred, in a trap house. The weapon was then brought to the Prince George’s County Police Department where he testified that they didn’t do immediate testing for DNA due to the gun being found at a “trap house.”

He said the weapon could have been heavily contaminated with others DNA and would not be significant.

The detective also said he wasn’t made aware that the .40 caliber handgun was transferred to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and destroyed.

Mayfield’s defense attorney, Veronice Holt, said she wanted to understand why there was so much confusion over the alleged murder weapon between the MPD, Prince George’s County Police Department, and the ATF.

“Not one effort was made, including prosecutors” Holt said.

On Oct. 5, D.C. Witness reported that a MPD detective said the gun was originally held in Prince George’s County’s custody as evidence for a 2016 investigation of an illegal gun purchase.

Although officials initially suspected the gun was linked to Sydnor’s homicide’s back in August 2017, the connection was confirmed through a federal ballistics database that identified a match between the casings fired by the gun and the bullet which killed Sydnor.

Through a series of emails, the detective was aware of that the gun was a murder weapon, which a forensic examiner soon confirmed. At that time, the gun was transferred to the ATF Task Force’s vault.

In 2019, the defendant in the Prince George’s County investigation pleaded guilty. After his sentence, the prosecution’s office filed a motion asking the court to forfeit all property related to the case, including the gun. The officer asked the ATF to schedule the gun’s destruction for the “near future” as this would make “much more room in the vault.”

Per the request, the detective switched the gun’s status from “evidence” to “seized judicially” in the ATF database, which prompted officials to formally approve the gun’s destruction. However, the MPD was not copied in these emails and not updated when the gun was destroyed in August 2019.

DC Superior Judge Maribeth Raffinan continued the hearing for Oct. 11 to resolve trial readiness issues. July selection is slated to begin on Oct. 12.

Document: Vehicle Sought in a Non-Fatal Shooting

Metropolitan Police Department seek the public’s help in locating a vehicle that occurred on Oct. 6, on the 1200 block of North Capitol Street, NW.

According to a press release, at about 1:07 pm, officers located four adult males that were struck by gunfire. Minor injuries were received by three of the victims. The condition of the fourth victim is critical. All four patients were sent to nearby hospitals for medical attention.

Defense Counsel Motions for Dismissal of Sex Abuse Case

Defense counsel motioned for DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt to dismiss a 2021 sexual abuse case, saying the case was improperly investigated.

The 56-year-old defendant is charged with second-degree sexual abuse in connection to a sexual assault on Aug. 3, 2021, at a drug program located on the 1900 block of 4th Street, NE. The defendant was an employee of the program.

During the Oct. 5 hearing, a Metropolitan Police Detective (MPD) said surveillance footage from the day of the alleged offense showed the defendant standing behind the complaint in the lobby while waiting for the elevator. There are no cameras inside of the elevator, so there wasn’t any video footage of the alleged assault.

On Aug. 31, 2021, the detective was able to watch footage of the day of the incident, but the managers would not allow her to save the footage on a thumb drive.

The footage showed the complaint stepping out of the elevator and the complainant rubbing her hands together as if she was sanitizing her hands.

The detective testified that she sent an email to the operation managers at the drug program asking for the surveillance footage.

On Nov. 21, she said she sent a second email to the program requesting the footage but was unsuccessful in obtaining it. A subpoena was issued on Dec. 16 to obtain the video, but the footage had been overwritten. The system only stores video for thirty days, she said.

Defense attorney Dean Gregory and Judge Brandt questioned the detective on why it took so long to get a subpoena for crucial evidence in this case.

Gregory said he believed the case was not prioritized nor handled correctly by the MPD because his client was arrested a year later and the prosecution did not have the surveillance footage from the day of the alleged offense.

Judge Brandt said she believes more research needs to be done in regards to the case. She gave parties until Oct. 21 to submit writings on the drug program and how it functions before she can make a ruling.

Document: Traffic Fatality That Killed a 60-Year-Old Woman

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a traffic fatality that occurred on Oct. 5, at the intersection of 10th Street and Massachusetts Avenue, NW.

According to a press release, the driver of a 2020 Dodge Charger was driving westbound in the 900 block of Massachusetts Avenue, Northwest, crossing 10th Street, Northwest, at around 5:21 am. A pedestrian attempted to cross Massachusetts Avenue in the northwest direction from south to north.

At the intersection, the Dodge Charger struck the pedestrian. When all attempts to save the pedestrian’s life were unsuccessful, DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services came to the scene and took the pedestrian to a nearby hospital, where the pedestrian was later pronounced dead.

The decedent has been identified as 60-year-old Venancie Musabe.

Defense Argues Case Violates Defendant’s Sixth Amendment Right, Judge Disagrees

During an Oct. 6 motion hearing, DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun ruled against a defendant’s motion to dismiss a sex abuse trial on the grounds of violating the defendant’s 6th amendment right.

The defendant, who is representing himself along with Howard McEachern as his co-counsel, is being held on charges of assault with intent to commit first-degree sexual abuse, kidnapping, first-degree burglary, sex abuse, and two counts of committing lewd, indecent, or obscene acts for an incident that occurred in September 2020.

At the beginning of the hearing, the prosecution dropped a third-degree sex abuse charge against the defendant.

Later in the hearing, the defendant argued that his case should be dropped based on the assertion that the court and prosecution will continue to violate his sixth amendment right.

The defense argued that this case has been violating the defendant’s sixth amendment rights on two grounds: right to a speedy trial and right to confront the witnesses and accusers against him.

McEachern argued that the defendant’s right to a fast and speedy trial has been violated because the defendant has been held for over two years since his arrest. The defendant had his jury trial rescheduled five times.

Additionally, the defense argued that the trial would go against the sixth amendment’s confrontation clause, arguing that since the accuser of the defendant is no longer living, any material relevant to her prior remarks is inadmissible because the victim cannot be cross-examined while testifying.

It’s been two years since the defendant was arrested, so it is reasonable to bring up the sixth amendment claim, Judge Okun said. However, he ruled against the motion because the trial was unintentionally pushed back due to COVID-19.

Additionally, in regards to the confrontation clause, Judge Okun ruled against the defense, citing that since the accuser is no longer alive and cannot not testify, any information that is provided about her is not considered witness testimony and therefore does not fall under the confrontation clause.

Jury selection is set to begin on Oct. 11.

Document: Arrest Made in a Non-Fatal Shooting Offense

Metropolitan Police Department made an arrest in a non-fatal shooting that occurred on Oct. 5, on the 1600 block of 22nd Street, SE.

According to a press release at about 6:42 am, the suspect and victim were involved in a verbal altercation. The defendant fired rounds at the victim while brandishing a firearm during the argument. The victim was transported at a local hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

On Oct. 5, 23-year-old A-Mar Sydney Harris was arrested and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a pistol without a license, possession of unregistered ammunition, possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, and destruction of property.

Court Officials Uncertain About How to Proceed as Child Sex Offender Awaits Booking

A felony domestic violence defendant waits for information on where he is to report to self surrender for his 12 year prison sentence. He is currently released on his own recognizance.

Winfred M. Brown pleaded guilty to all accounts of first-degree child sex abuse with aggravating circumstances on May 26. The terms of Brown’s guilty plea included registering as a sex offender and a 12 year prison sentence.

After his sentencing on Sept. 23, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan accepted the defense’s request to allow Brown to self-surrender. To self-surrender, Brown is given a time and a place to report to in order to be detained and admitted to prison.

Self surrendering allowed Brown to have three points removed from his incarceration score and to control the timing of his arrest without having to be seized by a warrant squad.

During an Oct. 6 felony voluntary surrender hearing, Brown’s defense attorney, Rodrick Thompson, said he was uncertain of how to proceed. He stated he wasn’t sure if the judge would give designation for booking or if the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) would submit designation.

Judge Raffinan similarly was unsure of booking terms, saying she would send an email to the BOP to seek out a designated correctional center where Brown could surrender.

Judge Raffinan scheduled another hearing for Oct. 11 to proceed with updates as parties await the designated location.

Defense Requests Release After Defendant Suffers from Numerous Stabbings At DC Jail

In an Oct. 6 hearing, defense attorneys Anthony Matthews and Rachel Cicurel submitted an oral motion for the release of a homicide defendant after he suffered from numerous violent assaults during his detainment at the DC Jail.

Jordan Jones, 22, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection to an Oct. 11, 2021, shooting of 18-year-old Noel Prince Nicol on the 2000 block of Savannah Place SE. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers found Nicol slumped over in the driver seat of his blue Chevrolet Malibu three days after his murder on Oct. 14, 2021. An autopsy confirmed Nicol suffered from two gunshot wounds to the right temple of his head.

Since his arrest on May 12, Jones has been the victim of several violent attacks at the DC Jail, Matthews said.

According to Matthews, Jones has suffered a physical attack resulting in cracked teeth and two separate stabbings, one on May 18 and the other on July 27.

The defense said there were more incidents but are waiting to receive the rest of the documents from the hospital. One of the stabbings resulted in criminal charges against the perpetrator.

“He is being targeted,” Cicurel said. “The calls we have received about hospitalizations have not been insignificant.”

Cicurel says the alternative option, solitary confinement, would “destroy his mental health.”

Upon redirect, the prosecution said release would be premature without a written motion from the defense. The prosecution also proposed potential insufficient security measures allowing the assaults to take place.

At the end of the hearing, the defense presented an email sent to the prosecution after the July 27 stabbing. The email requested Jones’ immediate transfer from the Central Detention Facility (CDF) to the Correctional Treatment Facility (CTF), asking for the prosecution’s help in filing the motion.

When presented with the email, the prosecution had no objection to the defendant’s transfer to CTF.

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan requested a written motion from the defense to solidify the defense’s intentions to seek release.

Judge Raffinan also issued a medical alert for Jones’ safety and an official motion to transfer Jones to CTF.

To allow time for the defense to file a written motion and for the prosecution to respond, Judge Raffinan scheduled the next hearing for Dec. 16.

Judge Grants Continuance in Armed Assault Due to Co-Defendant’s COVID Quarantine

DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee granted a continuance for parties involved in an armed assault due to one of the co-defendants being quarantined at the DC Jail.

The 19-year-old and 20-year-old defendant’s are charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a pistol without a license outside of a home or business, and a criminal gang street affiliation for a May 21, 2021, shooting they were allegedly connected to on the 5700 block of 14th Street, NW.

During the Oct. 6 hearing, Judge Lee said it “would not make sense” to proceed with an arraignment without the co-defendant, who is the older defendant, is present, as he recently contracted coronavirus. Counsel agreed with this decision.

According to court documents, the younger defendant approached the victim in an “aggressive manner” as he attempted to enter the Columbia Heights Market Tobacco and Vape Shop located on the 3000 block of 144th Street, NW. He then brandished a handgun and started “waving it back and forth” in front of the victim and his friend.

The victim’s friend recognized the defendant because they both attended Theodore Roosevelt High School together. The friend also said the defendant is a member of the 18th Street gang.

After the defendant brandished a handgun, the victim and his friend sought refuge in the vape shop and dialed 911 but quickly hung up after growing impatient with the operator.

They then left the store and tried to ride their bikes back home. As they biked home, the victim noticed the younger defendant pointing a gun at him in a car, and fell off his bike. He sustained a gunshot wound to the leg.

When presented with a photo line-up by police, the victim identified the younger defendant as the shooter. He was also able to identify the older defendant as the driver of the vehicle. The older defendant is also a member of the 18th Street gang.

Parties are scheduled to return to court on Oct. 26 to continue the arraignment and further address the case.

Witnesses Connect Co-Defendants in Series of Homicides

During an Oct. 4 jury trial, the prosecution presented several critical pieces of evidence found in a homicide defendant’s call history that linked him to his co-defendant.

Derek Turner, 31, and co-defendant Ronnika Jennings, 44, are charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and conspiracy in connection with the shooting of 28-year-old Andrew McPhatter on March 5, 2017, on the 3500 block of Wheeler Road, SE. Jennings is accused of sharing criminal information with Turner during her time working as a clerk for the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

The third co-defendant Duan Hill, 33, is charged with conspiracy and obstruction of justice. Turner is also charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 23-year-old Devin Hall on Jan. 7, 2017, on the 3500 block of 6th Street, SE.

According to both parties, Jennings was a station clerk at the time of the murders and she accessed information regarding the investigation reports and sent multiple photocopies to Turner. The prosecution also showed her caller history between her and Turner with dates, times, and call durations.

The witness said Jennings wasn’t supposed to have access to the detective’s information, only the public, and internal access records.

According to court documents, the defendant was doing numerous runs on Turner using law enforcement information systems.

The prosecution identified 28 phone calls between the two after the defendant signed an electronic release form to the law enforcement agency. The prosecution also found a text she sent to Turner that said “he’s still good LMAO”

The prosecution also presented the jury with other pieces of evidence that linked Turner to violence during Tuesday’s proceedings.

A shot spotter specialist identified sounds of apparent gunshots pulled from shot spotters in the areas of shootings that occurred on Jan. 7, Feb.16, Feb. 17, Feb. 22, and March 1 of 2017.

The prosecution also showed the jury video footage displaying Turner and an associate of his in a car listening to music and displaying what appeared to be the back end of a gun. Turner then proceeded to end the video by saying “Fu** Y’all.”

One witness, a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) homicide detective, was questioned about her work on a July 15, 2017, crime scene on 9th and Waller Streets in Southeast, DC. The detective said she was dispatched to the hospital regarding a male who was suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to one of his arms.

Upon arrival, she identified three individuals who were involved in the incident. A male who was suffering from a gunshot wound to the arm, a female who had apparent scratches on her arm from dropping to the ground and getting cut by glass, and Turner, who had no apparent injuries.

Turner told the detective that he “ducked and didn’t see anything.”

The detective indicated that Turner seemed uncooperative and didn’t provide any information as to who he thought could have done the shooting. The case was never closed.

Turner’s defense attorney, Michael Madden, questioned the detective’s credibility by referring to her Internal Affairs Division (IAD) investigations from October to January of 2007. During that time, complaints were filed against her for secretly recording co-workers.

Another MPD detective said he responded to Trenton Park back in 2016 for an ongoing investigation where he then discovered the connection between Turner and Jennings.

A video also was displayed of Turner and others in Trenton Park in a rap video that drew a connection to one of the murders that took place a block behind the parking lot the video was filmed in. Turner was viewed in the video saying “y’all been looking for me anyways Bi*** A** Ni**as.”

The trial resumed on Oct. 6 before DC Superior Court Judge Marisa J. Demeo.

Search