A judge decided Feb. 6 to reject testimony from an officer, citing two prior incidents in which the officer did not tell the truth.
Keith Archie, 39, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing Demond Marcel Rush on the 3600 block of 22nd Street, SE in 2017.
On Feb. 6, DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz said that testimony from a responding Metropolitan Police Department officer would not be allowed in trial because the officer lied to fellow officers while on patrol in two separate incidents. The incidents were not connected to the homicide.
In one incident, the officer was outside of his designated patrol area when his cruiser got stuck in a muddy field in Maryland. The told fellow officers that he pulled off the road and into the field to make an urgent family call.
However, the officer later said he and a fellow officer were just “hanging out” and being “disobedient.”
The trial is slated to begin on Feb. 10. It is expected to last for about two weeks.
During a status hearing on Feb. 6, a victim’s mother was placed on speaker phone while the murder defendant, who killed her son, pleaded guilty.
MacArthur Venable is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the death of 34-year-old James Eric Ferrell on the unit block of Massachusetts Avenue, NE on Oct. 31, 2018.
Before Venable entered a guilty plea, the prosecutor asked DC Superior Court Judge Anita Josey-Herring to call the victim’s mother and place her on speaker phone so that she could listen to the defendant plead guilty since she was unable to make it to court.
The judge agreed, and the mother was able to listen to Venable accept the prosecution’s plea deal for second-degree murder while armed.
Counsel agreed that Venable would be subject to serve 15 to 18 years in prison. Then five years of supervised release afterward. Judge Josey-Herring accepted Venable’s plea.
Venable is currently in a mental health program called Step-Down. His attorney requested him to be sentenced after he completes his program.
Venable’s sentencing is scheduled to occur on July 20.
Even though the defense questioned the creditability of a Metropolitan Police Department detective, a judge still found probable cause in a murder case.
Paul William Daniel is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 59-year-old Kevin Jerome Harrison on the 4100 block of Hayes Street, NE on Jan. 26, 2019.
DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman found that because of testimony from a new witness and a possible motive, the burden has been met for probable cause.
During a preliminary hearing on Feb 6, Daniel’s defense attorney, John Fowler, said the detective didn’t adequately investigate the case, noting that she didn’t question witnesses in person, ask detailed questions and that she failed to verify stories that she heard from witnesses throughout her investigation.
Fowler also said the forensic investigation on Daniel’s house and his car came up completely clean, with no evidence of blood, guns, drugs, or any other contraband.
“I would call her a liar,” Fowler said, referencing a lack of forensic evidence.
In addition, Fowler told the judge that the detective, in a previous case that is not related to the homicide, arrested and held the wrong man for 13 days.
However, the prosecutor argued that the case in which the detective arrested the wrong person was not relevant.
Daniel is being held without bond.
Two felony status conferences are scheduled to occur on Feb. 13 in Judge Edelman’s courtroom and on April 3 in DC Superior Court Judge Anita Josey-Herring‘s courtroom.
According to DC Courts, Edelman is supposed to hear about motions and a request from counsel regarding evidence.
A prosecutor said Feb. 5 a defense attorney of not identifying the items of evidence that was being independently tested.
Robert Edward Green, 27, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Andre Junior. According to the Metropolitan Police Department, Junior, 43, was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the 1500 block of Park Road, NW on March 15.
The prosecutor said the defense failed to send a proposed order indicating all the items that would be tested.
She also said there are a few items she would object to testing because the items do not tie the defendant to the crime.
Green’s defense attorney, Mani Golzari, said he would file an ex parte motion that would clearly explain the defense’s theory on why the items are relevant.
DC Superior Court Judge Anita Josey-Herring required the defense to file a constitutional motion by June 5. The judge gave the prosecutor until June 19 to respond. Expert notices must be filed by July 13.
Judge Josey-Herring asked both parties if there were any previous plea offers.
Golzari said the case’s previous prosecutor offered a plea deal to the defendant, but Green rejected the offer. There are no current plea offers.
A status hearing is scheduled to occur on March 6.
After a 2019 trial ended in a guilty verdict a DC Superior Court judge set a new date citing missing evidence.
Kimberly Thompson was convicted of first-degree murder in March of 2019 for shooting Charles Mayo, 53, on the 1900 block of Bennett Place, NE.
April 9, 2019, defense filed a motion for dismissal due to the prosecution’s negligence to disclose information that would have been helpful to the case.
DC Superior Court Judge Juliet McKenna denied the dismissal of the case. Instead, she set a new trial date.
One of the two prosecutors on the case said they are open to creating a plea deal as long as Thompson and his defense counsel are open to accepting a plea deal.
Defense attorney Kevin Mosley said he would need to speak to his client before making any decisions.
A trial readiness hearing is set for Aug. 12. The first day of trial is scheduled to begin on Sept. 8.
During closing arguments of a jury trial, a prosecutor asked the jury not to decide a murder defendant’s fate based on doubts that come from speculation.
Michael Francis “Mickey” Taylor
Mason Binion, 32, is charged with first-degree murder while armed after allegedly shooting Michael Francis Taylor, 21, on the 600 block of Farragut Street, NW on June 22, 2008. Apparently, Binion and Taylor were friends. Binion’s co-defendant, Victor Carvajal’s case was dismissed the day before opening statements. Carvajal was also charged with first-degree murder while armed.
“We don’t know if Mr. Binion actually pulled the trigger but, what we do know is that he was the last person seen with Mr. Taylor before he died and we know that because of corroborated testimony by multiple witnesses who identified him in court. He was a part of this conspiracy to kill Michael Taylor,” said the prosecutor.
The prosecutor conceded that more than one person could have been at the scene with a gun after Binion’s defense attorney, Kristin McGough, pointed to another type of shell casing that was found on the scene.
The prosecutor asked the jury not to choose whether Binion was guilty or innocent based on doubts that McGough brought up.
He said that to convict Binion on a murder charge would mean that the jury could find him guilty for being a part of the conspiracy to commit the murder.
“If every witness came up here and testified with perfect memory of a 12 year old murder, the defense would say that it’s just way too good to be 100 percent true and accurate,” the prosecutor said referencing witness recollections, such as the testimony of 32-year-old Joshua Massaquoi.
Massaquoi, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder, carrying a pistol during a crime of violence and accessory to second-degree murder, said he was with Binion. Phone records also indicate that Massaquoi and Binion were together during the time Taylor was killed.
The prosecutor said that even though Massaquoi was,”clearly a troubled man,” that the jurors should not consider his mental illness in deciding his credibility.
With a total of 15 homicides in Washington, DC in January, one-third of them occurred in Ward 6. The homicide count is higher than any other Ward in January.
In December, D.C. Witness recorded one homicide in Ward 6. According to D.C. Witness data, there were four shootings and one stabbing in Ward 6, including:
Jimmy Beynum, who succumbed at a local hospital on Jan. 29. The 36 year old was shot on Jan. 23. Stanley Brown was arrested in connection to the murder on Jan. 30. The 27 year old is charged with first-degree murder while armed. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 26.
Anthony Williams, 20, was fatally stabbed on Jan. 26 on the 700 block of 1st Street, NE. Two suspects were charged in connection to the homicide. Angel Moses, 20, is charged with second-degree murder while armed. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 6. Edward Everstine, 29, is charged with accessory after the fact. He is also scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 6.
According to the police, the homicide resulted from a dispute between the victim and the defendant on a metro platform at Union Station.
Malick Cisse
Malick Cisse, who was 18 years old, was fatally shot on Jan. 8 on the 1300 block of 7th Street, NW. A suspect has not been apprehended in the case.
Xavier Tate
Xavier Tate, 26, died from gunshot wounds on Jan. 5 on the 1400 block of 3rd Street, SW. Bratrell Hawkins was arrested in connection to the homicide. The 27 year old is charged with second-degree murder while armed. He is scheduled for a mental observation hearing on March 9.
Anthony Ward
Anthony Ward, 39, died from gunshot wounds on Jan. 4 on the unit block of K Street, NW. A suspect has not been apprehended for his murder.
Out of the 15 homicides, 12 were from gun-related shootings and three were stabbings.
The number of homicide increased from December to January from 10 to 15 homicides, respectively. But, the percentage of gun-related deaths compared to the total number of homicides per month decreased by 10 percent.
Ages for the 15 victims ranged from 18 years old to 60 years old.
During a motion hearing on Feb. 5, counsel argued over evidence the defense says they are entitled to.
Michael Fahnbulleh, also known as Mike Mike, 26, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Michael Andre Francis, 28, on Nov.30, 2019, on Unit block Danbury St., SW.
Fahnbulleh’s attorney, Madalyn R. Harvey, said the evidence she was given was video surveillance. She was denied other materials, including witness identification.
Harvey said that the video is contradictory. She said it does not incriminate Fahnbulleh, as the prosecution said it does. Instead, it questioned the witnesses’ credibility by showing images that did not reflect the statements.
Harvey said the video should not be shown in trial at all.
Witness identification cannot be given and the defense is not entitled to it in order to protect the integrity of the investigation and the witnesses, said the prosecution.
The prosecution continued to say that the video itself is helpful to their case and therefore should be admitted into trial.
“I take everything at face value, if it shows he’s not the one it impacts what is relevant and important,” said DC Superior Court Judge Todd. E. Edelman. The judge said he would decide if the evidence is necessary to share or not.
During the next motion hearing, Judge Edelman is expected to decide whether the prosecution needs to share certain pieces of evidence with the defense.
The next motion hearing is slated for Feb. 7.
This article was written by Jailynn Caraballo and Lea Gianasso.
There was a 36 percent increase in homicides from December of 2019 to January.
In January of 2020 there were 15 homicides in the District. In January of 2019 there had been 19 homicides.
There were 14 males and one female killed in January. According to D.C. Witness data, all of the victims were between the ages of 18 and 60, spanning four separate generations.
Twelve of the homicides resulted from gun violence while three murders resulted from stabbings.
Charles Robinson
The first murder of the month was 60 year-old Charles Robinson, a resident of Southeast, DC, who suffered from multiple gunshot wounds inside a residence on the 2000 block of 19th Place, SE on Jan. 4. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Anthony Ward
On the same day, 39 year-old Anthony Ward, a resident of Northwest, DC, was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the Unit Block of K Street, Northwest. He was pronounced dead on the scene.
Dy’Mani Priestly
One day later, 22-year-old Dy’Mani Priestley was found stabbed to death on the 1200 block of U Street, NW. MPD officers arrested 35 year-old Reginald Hooks on Feb. 19 and charged him with second-degree murder while armed. Hooks is currently awaiting a preliminary hearing.
Xavier Tate
Xavier Tate, 26, was found shot to death on the 1400 Block of 3rd Street, SW on the same day. Police arrested 27 year-old Bratrell Hawkinsand charged him with first-degree murder while armed in connection to the murder. Hawkins is awaiting a mentally competency hearing.
On Jan. 6, 21-year-old Tia Carey was found shot multiple times on the 3700 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE.
Tierra Posey, 21, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder while armed in connection to the homicide. She is scheduled for a felony status conference on March 18. Dejon Ford is also charged with kidnapping and carrying a pistol in relation to the homicide. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on April 3.
Lamar Walters
On the same day, 38-year-old Lamar Walters was found suffering from multiple gun shot wounds on the 2400 block of Franklin Street, NE. He was shot along with two other people.
Malick Cisse
Two days later on Jan. 8 police found 18-year-old Malick Cisse shot to death on the 1300 block of 7th Street, NW.
On Jan. 11, police officers responded to the 700 block of 24th Street, NW where they found 41-year-old Tavon Cox suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. On Jan. 12, Cox succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital.
Three days later 48-year-old Kevin Chamberlain was found with multiple stab wounds on the 2400 block of Virginia Avenue, NW. He was transported to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. Police arrested Jospeh Melton, a resident of Southeast, DC, charging him with first-degree murder while armed.
The next three homicides occurred 12 days later on Jan. 26, 36-year-old Eric Delonte Barbour was shot to death on the Unit block of N Street, NW.
MPD officers found 20-year-old Anthony Williamssuffering from multiple stab wounds on the 700 block of 1st Street, NE.
Andy Bonilla
Andy Bonilla, 19, was found shot to death on the 2600 block of Sherman Avenue, NW.
The shootings are not related.
MPD arrested Angelo Moss, 23, charging him with second-degree murder while armed in connection to Williams’ homicide. Edward Everstine, 29, was also arrested and charged with accessory after the fact in connection to Williams’ homicide. Both men are scheduled for a preliminary hearing on May 8.
Angus Houston
On Jan. 27, 44-year-old Angus Houston succumbed to his injuries after being found with multiple gunshot wounds on the 1300 block of Congress Street, SE.
On Jan. 29, 36-year-old Jimmy Beynum was found shot to death on the 1600 block of F Street, NE.
The final homicide of the month occurred on Jan. 30 when 30-year-oldJohn Seegars was found shot to death on the 100 block of Atlantic Street, SE.
During the continuation of a motion hearing on Feb. 4, defense and prosecution argued about whether or not to exclude testimony from the murder defendant’s daughter.
Keith Archie, 39, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing Demond Marcel Rush on the 3600 block of 22nd St., SE in 2017.
The daughter previously testified in front of a grand jury and was set to testify again for the trial. Archie’s lawyers, Sylvia Smith and Jason Tulley, argued that the daughter’s testimony should be excluded because she no longer remembers parts of her previous testimony.
The defense also filed a motion to suppress pictures from the crime scene, which showed Archie’s shoes and pants.
The prosecution asked DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz to permit the use of the nine-year -old daughter’s testimony, explaining that her testimony presented a clear picture of the crime.
Both the defense and prosecution agreed on a select number of pictures of Archie’s pants and shoes that would be used during trial.
Judge Kravitz did not preclude the daughter’s testimony. The judge did strike statements the defendant gave to police on the night of the homicide because the officers were in violation of Archie’s Miranda rights.
The motion hearing continued to Feb. 5 and then jury selection for trial began.
During a murder trial Feb. 4, a key witness told jurors that the prosecution agreed to speak on his behalf at his sentencing if he told the truth.
Michael Francis “Mickey” Taylor
Mason Binion, 32, is charged with first-degree murder while armed after allegedly shooting Michael Francis Taylor, 21, on the 600 block of Farragut Street, NW on June 22, 2008. Apparently, Binion and Taylor were friends. Binion’s co-defendant, Victor Carvajal’s case was dismissed the day before opening statements. Carvajal was also charged with first-degree murder while armed.
D.C. Witness previously reported that, Joshua Massaquoi, who was Binion’s co-defendant and present during Taylor’s murder, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder, carrying a pistol during a crime of violence and accessory to second-degree murder.
During his continued testimony Feb. 4, Massaquoi said that he and the prosecutor had reached a plea agreement, for the charges listed above, and that when he spoke to his defense lawyer, Matthew Davies, he was advised that he could spend up to 40 years in prison.
Massaquoi said that as part of the plea agreement the prosecutor in Binion’s case would speak on his behalf at his sentencing.
Because of the agreement with the prosecutor in his separated case, Massaquoi would only have to spend between 7-14 years in prison with a probationary period afterwards.
The initial detective who investigated the case also testified. He said that in 2008 when the murder occurred he did not have Binion’s car analyzed for fingerprints. The detective said the prints weren’t analyzed because everyone who was in the car on the night of the murder was an associate of Binion. It would not have been unusual for their prints to be in the car.
He also said that it was known that Binion’s cell phone was off and at that time, in 2008, landline records could not be subpoenaed.
Closing arguments are scheduled to begin on Feb. 5 .
A defense attorney told the jury Feb. 4 that her client did not kill the victim.
Marquette Tibbs is charged with first-degree murder while armed, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Cinquan Cartledge, whose case was severed, is also charged in the homicide with first-degree murder while armed, conspiracy to commit a crime of violence, robbery while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, first-degree murder while armed while committing or attempting to commit a robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction. The men were allegedly involvement in the shooting of Orlando Silver III, 37, on the 1300 block of Howard Road, SE, in 2016.
“He is a lot of things,” defense attorney Jessica Willis told the jury. “A killer is not one of them.”
According to court documents, Tibbs and Cartledge were wearing GPS ankle monitors that placed them near the scene of Silver’s murder. Two witnesses identified Tibbs as the shooter shortly after witnessing the incident.
Willis said Tibbs charged his GPS ankle bracelet a couple of hours prior to the incident and a few minutes after the incident occurred.
As part of her defense argument, Willis said charging the monitor is not consistent with someone who would be planning a murder. In fact, if he was, the lawyer said he would have let the monitor die to avoid tracking his location.
The defense says that Tibbs was there for a gun exchange. Apparently, he attempted to trade his Smith and Wesson gun with an associate of Silver’s who had a beretta. After Tibbs decided he did not want to go through with the trade, the situation escalated. An altercation occurred between Tibbs and Silver’s associate.
Tibbs says the gun went off during the altercation, striking Silver.
The prosecution told a different story.
During the prosecutor’s closing statements, the prosecutor tried to convince the jury that Silver was set up by Tibbs. The prosecutor told the jury about a text message about the deal that Tibbs sent to Silver on the morning of the homicide.
“Sweet move, get up,” Tibbs texted Silver, saying that it was a good deal.
According to the prosecution’s theory, Silver didn’t believe he was being taken seriously enough and tried to leave. As he was leaving, Tibbs allegedly shot him.
The prosecution tried to convince the jury that Tibbs was not there for a gun exchange. The prosecution said he was there for a drug deal.
“This wasn’t an accident or self-defense. This was a message,” the prosecutor said.
Arguments lasted for nine days with the jury hearing from 34 witnesses.
On Jan 31, during a felony arraignment, a DC Superior Court judge inquired about the condition of a murder defendant.
Robert Henson, 38, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the death of 37-year-old Richard Lee Dudley on the 2500 block of Elvans Road, SE on Dec.10, 2018.
The defense attorney for Henson, David Knight and Joseph Yarbough, said that Henson had slightly improved since being hospitalized for unknown reasons.
He also said that Henson is competent and alert for 2 hours in the afternoons. The defense asked the judge to set an afternoon arraignment in the following weeks in order to fit Hemson’s needs.
The prosecution did not object.
Judge Juliet McKenna said she hopes Henson’s condition improved by the end of February.
During a status hearing, Jan. 31, a DC Superior Court judge opted against changing a murder trial date.
Antonio Clifton Jackson, 32, a resident of Capital Heights, Md., was charged with first degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing Maria Antoinette Evans, 52, on the 500 block of Oakwood Street, SE on March 29, 2018.
DC Superior Court Judge Neal E. Kravitz decided to remain on track with the trial that is scheduled to take place on Oct. 5.
Judge Kravitz also set a status hearing to discuss whether Jackson would test DNA evidence independently on March 26.
Judge Kravitz is also supposed to decide on a date for a motions schedule and a trial readiness hearing on March 26.
A murder defendant requested to ease his release conditions during a status hearing on Feb. 4. A judge denied his request.
Brian Wooden is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly killing his girlfriend’s son, Carter Sanders, who was one years old, on the 4700 block of Benning Road, SE on May 16, 2018.
Wooden, 30, requested to change programs from the high intensity supervision program (HISP) to the general supervision program due to an inconvenience with his four-year-old child. Wooden said the strict curfew was interfering with time he could spend with his son on the weekends.
As part of his conditions, Wooden can only have supervised visits with his son or any other child. His attorney, Marnitta King, said that Wooden, who lives with both of his parents, has been in compliance with his conditions.
A trial readiness hearing is set for April 3, 2020, and trial is scheduled to begin in September.
