Murder Defendant Fires Attorney

On Sept. 30, a murder defendent requested new counsel.

Delonta Daniel, 32, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the shooting of Bernard Jarvis, 25, on the 2400 block of 14th Street, NE on June 28. Jarvis died on the scene.

Kristin McGough, Daniel’s current defense attorney was not available in court today.

Daniel discussed why he wanted new counsel off the record with stand-in counsel, Kevin Irving.

The prosecution also discussed presenting evidence to the defense team pending a protective order.

This evidence would provide defense counsel with a witness’s name and contact information. The protective order would deny the defendant access to this information.

The prosecutor said she would turn over the evidence when new defense counsel is obtained.

DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson granted the motion for new counsel.

Daniel said he may retain his own defense counsel.

An arraignment hearing is scheduled on Oct. 16 to appoint a new defense attorney if Daniel has not obtained one himself.

The case is still pending a grand jury indictment.

Daniel is being held without bail.

Murder Defendant Requests New Counsel, Postpones Trial

For the second time in a year, a murder defendant filed a motion for his defense counsel to withdraw.

Edward Hampton Brown, 57, is charged with robbery while armed of a senior citizen and first-degree murder while armed of a senior citizen for his alleged involvement in the murder of Michael Mahoney, 71.

Brown allegedly stabbed Mahoney on the 2300 block of 11th Street, NW on Feb. 5, 2018.

On Sept. 30, which was scheduled to be the beginning of jury selection, Brown requested his counsel, Kevin Irving and Errin Scialpi, to be withdrawn from the case before the trial could begin.

DC Superior Court Judge Milton C. Lee granted the request, saying that although he did not want to go into specifics, the relationship between Brown and his lawyers was not working.

“It’s going to take me a few days to find a lawyer,” Judge Lee said. Judge Lee said that he hoped the delay would not be long.

The prosecution told the judge that this is Brown’s second change in counsel for this case.

According to court documents, Brown filed a motion to withdraw his previous counsel, Madalyn Harvey, on July 13, 2018, for reasons that were discussed at the bench.

The prosecution did not object to the motion to withdraw.

A status conference is scheduled on Oct. 7.

Document: Homicide on S Street, NW

The Metropolitan Police Department is currently investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on Sept. 29.

According to a press release, officers found 19-year-old Tahlil Byrd suffering from a gunshot wound on the 600 block of S Street, NW. Byrd was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Police are offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in this homicide or any other homicide in DC. Anyone with information is asked to call the police at 202-727-9099. Anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s Text Tip Line — 50411.

Document: Homicide on Jasper Street, SE

The Metropolitan Police Department is currently investigating a fatal stabbing that occurred on Sept. 28.

According to a press release, officers found 52-year-old Anthony Hardy suffering from a stab wound on the 2800 block of Jasper Street, SE. Hardy was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Defendant Receives 6 Life Sentences for Murder

A murder defendant received six life sentences without the possibility of parole in addition to several lesser sentences for the murder of an out of town artist.

El Hadji Alpha Madiou Toure, also known as Elie Brown, was convicted on 13 counts, including first-degree murder while armed, first-degree sexual abuse, kidnapping while armed and robbery while armed, for stabbing Corrina Mehiel on the 600 block of 14th Street, NE in 2017. According to court documents, Mehiel’s stab wounds were consistent with torture.

“Toure is an evil being… I know life in prison is the best we can hope for,” Mehiel’s aunt said in a victim impact statement. “Toure losing his life would be more just, to me.”

More than 20 friends and members of Mehiel’s family were present at the sentencing on Sept. 26. Nearly all of the victim’s family members were brought to tears at some point. According to DC Superior Court Judge Juliet Mckenna, approximately 23 written victim impact statements were filed; six were read during the sentencing.

The prosecution asked the judge to give Toure the maximum sentence which one of the attorneys said they do not ask for often, adding that Toure had shown no remorse.

“This was not a split second decision,” said one prosecutor. “He watched her. He stalked her like an animal stalking his prey.”

D.C. Witness previously reported, Toure watched Mehiel, 34, while she was loading her car outside of her apartment before proceeding to take her hostage, according to the prosecution’s theory.

Mehiel’s arms and legs were bound with shirts and leggings before she was raped and stabbed to death, according to the medical examiner. What happened next was “is literally the definition of torture,” according to the prosecution.

According to the medical examiner, Mehiel’s death was not instant and she may have lived for up to an hour after sustaining her injuries. Mehiel was stabbed more than 37 times in the neck according to the prosecution, but the medical examiner could not account for the number of stab wounds which contributed to a “gaping hole” in her neck.

“It was a personal nightmare I worry about and I’m sure many other women worry about,” said Mehiel’s aunt. “But Corrina lived it… I can only hope her senses were dulled quickly with shock.”

Of Toure’s six life sentences, five were for murder charges and one was for first degree sexual abuse. He also received three 30 year sentences, three eight year sentences and one three year sentence for various charges including kidnapping while armed, first degree robbery while armed and identity theft.

“This world was bright with hope with sweet Corrina in it,” said Mehiel’s stepmother in her victim impact statement. “She was nothing to him, as any other woman would have been. His choice to kidnap, rape, torture and brutally stab Corrina to death is his legacy.”

In the days following Mehiel’s death, surveillance footage shows a man who the prosecution believed to be Toure using Mehiel’s ATM card to withdraw a total of $4000 from multiple ATMS. According to the prosecution, Toure also stole Mehiel’s camera which was very important to her and the art she created.

In addition to her photography, Mehiel worked on a number of art projects using materials unwanted by others, including abandoned bikes and nonfunctional parking meters. According to her cousin Mehiel “created beautiful art in neglected spaces.”

Mehiel was visiting Washington, DC to work as a project assistant at The George Washington University’s Corcoran School of the Arts and Design. Mehiel planned to leave the District the day after she died.

“She lived with my family and took care of us as we took care of her,” said Mehiel’s friend and mentor in his victim impact statement. “I meet students every day and I do not dare get close to them because of this loss.”

Toure’s defense attorney, Jason Clark asked that Judge McKenna sentence Toure to 30 years, the minimum required by sentencing guidelines bearing in mind difficulties in his past.

Instead, Judge McKenna passed down the most severe sentences available, in light of the brutality of the crime and Toure’s criminal history.

“Mr. Toure’s actions in abducting Ms. Mehiel and torturing her for nearly three hours were cold,” Judge McKenna said.

Judge Removes Murder Defendant from Halfway House

During a halfway house remand hearing Sept. 27, a judge ordered a murder defendant’s release be revoked.

Sean McKenzie, 22, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Kenneth Poindexter on the 4700 block of Benning Road, SE. Charles Young, Steven Robin, and Edward Brown are co-defendants in the case, and are also charged with first-degree murder while armed.

McKenzie had previously been released to a halfway house on July 30. Since that time he was caught violating several rules, and the prosecution requested that he be held in jail without bond. DC Superior Court Judge Todd E. Edelman granted that request.

McKenzie was seen approaching a gold vehicle outside the halfway house, despite being told not to. After he was searched, he was found to be carrying $240 in cash, a digital scale, and rolling papers.

It is against halfway house policy to have more than $50 on your person. A digital scale and rolling papers are considered drug paraphernalia.

McKenzie is scheduled for a felony status conference on Nov. 15.

Judge Sentences Murder Defendant to 15 Years in Prison

During a hearing Sept. 27, a murder defendant was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

David Hackney, 59, pleaded guilty to second-degree-murder while armed for stabbing 46-year-old Chester Belfield on the 1000 block of Southern Avenue, SE on April 13.

Hackney accepted a plea deal in July which recommended a sentence of 15 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. DC Superior Court Judge Milton C. Lee, Jr. accepted that deal.

Members of Belfield’s family were present during sentencing. Belfield’s wife gave a written statement which the prosecutor read aloud to the court. The statement said Belfield was “my soulmate, my best friend.”

She also described the financial and emotional hardships that her family has been suffering since losing the Belfield.

“We will never be the same,” Belfield’s mother said.

Before sentencing Hackney, Judge Lee said his children, especially his daughter, had spoken so highly of him during earlier hearings. “I don’t know where that person was that day. If you had been that person that day, we wouldn’t be here,” Judge Lee said.

Family Goes to Counseling Because of ‘Immense Grief,’ Victim’s Fiancee Says

The fiancée of a victim said the entire family has been torn a part since his murder.

DC Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz found a juvenile was responsible for the charges of second-degree murder while armed, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition for the murder of 23-year-old Jamal Kwame Crump on the 1300 block of Monroe Avenue, NW on Feb. 27.

“We go to counseling as a family at least two times a week because of what happened,” Crump’s fiancée said during the disposition. “Jamal being a trusting person got him killed and that is wrong on so many levels and the immense grief has been overwhelming.”

Crump’s fiancée also said that Crump and the defendant were supposed to be friends because of their Muslim faith.

The prosecution asked that the juvenile defendant be held at the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) until 21 years old.

“Supervision in the community is not enough given how heinous this crime was,” said the prosecutor.

The prosecutor said because the juvenile had not been compliant in DYRS and was trying to evade police during the murder investigation, he needed to spend the maximum amount of time committed in order to rehabilitate.

“The defendant wants to improve … and move forward from this,” said the defense attorney.

The defense said that because the juvenile had such a great family structure, the defendant should be committed until 18. The defense also said the juvenile has shown signs of leadership while committed and would like to keep in contact with an attorney in order to finish high school.

“It’s startling to know someone this young committed this murder,” said Judge Leibovitz.

Judge Leibovitz committed the juvenile to DYRS until 21. “It is the best course of action not only because of the seriousness of the crime but because the juvenile clearly has some mental health challenges to overcome.”

During the trial, D.C. Witness previously reported that a witness said the juvenile wasn’t concerned with any repercussions from the murder. “Don’t worry about it. It’s going to be alright. I’ll just go down to the C (Youth Corrective Services) and get out when I’m 21,” the witness said the juvenile told him.

Murder Defendant’s Mother Says He is ‘Lovable’

During a trial for the murder of a 2-year-old, a murder defendant’s mother said her son was never a disciplinary figure towards his girlfriend’s children.

James Embre is charged with felony murder, first-degree cruelty to children and second-degree cruelty to children for his alleged role in the death of two-year-old Aceyson Aizim Ahmad on the 3400 block of A Street, SE on April 17. According to court documents, Embre, 26, was involved in a romantic relationship with Ahmad’s mother.

“Jimmy never exhibited violence from what I know. He’s always been a lovable person,” said Embre’s mother. “He cared for those kids. He wasn’t the authority figure from what I saw.”

The prosecution asked about Embre’s mother’s relationship to the children and about her whereabouts on the night of the murder.

Embre’s mother said she recalled a time when Aceyson’s mom asked her to go to their apartment. She said when she got their she found out that Aceyson’s sister had pushed the baby off a bed.

She said she then had a long talk with the girl about how to treat her brother and why hitting him was inappropriate.

Embre’s mother said she would see the kids and her son at least once a week. She also said she would rarely see Aceyson’s mom.

“She always just stayed in the room, she never really came out or socialized with us,” Embre’s mother said.

Embre’s mother also said that, on the night that Aceyson died, Embre called her and asked her to come to his place. When she arrived Embre, Aceyson’s mother and the baby’s sister had already gone to the hospital.

She said she attempted to talk to Embre at the hospital, but an officer stepped in front of her. The defendant’s mother said that she went back to find Embre, after learning of Aceyson’s death, and learned that the baby’s sister told police she saw Embre punch Aceyson.

Trial is scheduled to resume on Oct. 2.

Prosecution Doesn’t Plan On Testing Evidence in Murder Case

There is at least one piece of evidence available for testing in a 2018 homicide case, but the prosecution said testing would probably not be conducted.

Torey Stockton, 21, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the death of 23-year-old Jasmine Light on the 2000 block of 16th Street, SE on Jan. 17, 2018.

Defense attorneys Justin Okezie and Gemma Stevens said they may still choose to conduct DNA testing on the evidence. Neither attorney gave any indication if the testing would occur.

According to court documents, Light was an unintentional victim of a drive-by shooting. The drive-by shooting began near King Convenience Store located on the 1500 block of U Street, SE and ended on the 2000 block of U Street, SE, according to court documents. Stockton also injured three other people during the shooting.

Stockton’s next status hearing is scheduled on Nov. 7. The defense is also expected to decide if independent DNA testing will be conducted at the hearing.

Judge Reschedules Status Conference in Murder Case

A felony status conference was unable to take place Sept. 26 because defense counsel was not present. The hearing was rescheduled for next week.

Delonta Daniel is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Bernard Jarvis, 25, on the 2400 block of 14th Street, NE on June 28. Jarvis died on the scene.

Kristin McGough, Daniel’s defense attorney, could not be at the hearing because she was in another trial. DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson is also presiding over a trial, so she could not wait for McGough.

The hearing is scheduled to occur on Oct. 4.

6-Year-Old Girl Isn’t Responsible for Brother’s Murder, Expert Says

During trial on Sept. 25, a witness said that, in her opinion, a six year old could not have been able to mortally injure her baby brother.

A pediatric abuse and neglect specialist said there were major injuries to the baby’s liver, spleen, diaphragm, stomach and a vein that pumps blood to the heart. The injuries caused Aceyson to internally bleed to death, the expert said.

The specialist said trauma to the vein is extremely rare. She said there had to have been an extreme amount of force to Aceyson’s body for the vena cava to split in half.

The specialist also said she believed most of the injuries were caused from punches to the front or side of Aceyson’s body.

A forensic anthropologist testified that she discovered four different stages of bone growth on Aceyson’s ribs, meaning there were at least three other occasions where Aceyson had been beaten previously to the muder.

The rib fractures that were visible showed that the fractures could have occurred up to a year before the baby’s murder, the anthropologist said.

In addition, the anthropologist said the fractures were not consistent with CPR induced fractures or any type of squeezing of the child because the rib fractures were located at the bottom half of the rib cage.

Defense counsel, Johnathan Zucker, inquired about the possibility that the damage to Aceyson’s body could have occurred from a six-year-old stomping, jumping and kicking instead of an adult punching.

To demonstrate, Zucker took his bag and put it on the floor. He then proceeded to stomp and jump on it to simulate how the defense suggested the child could have been attacked.

However, a forensic pathologist disagreed with the defense’s theory.

According to court documents, the baby’s liver was severely cut. The pathologist said that if the defense’s theory were true, the baby’s liver would have not only been cut, but also smashed.

According to DC Superior Court Judge Juliet Mckenna, the trial is ahead of schedule “by about a day.” It is scheduled to continue on Sept. 26 with testimony from the defendant’s mother.

Phone Records Reveal Sister Had Time to Kill Brother, Defense Says

During trial Sept. 24, a mother said there wasn’t enough time for her daughter to kill her son. However, phone records revealed there was more than enough time.

Aceyson’s mother told defense counsel Jonathan Zucker there was no way that her daughter would be able to kill Aceyson in the short amount she was in the room alone with the baby.

Apparently, the two were in the room alone while the mother was on the phone.

Cell phone records showed that Aceyson’s mother was on the phone until 7:31 p.m. and the 911 call was made at 8:17 p.m. The time indicates that Aceyson and his sister were in the room up to approximately 40 minutes alone.

D.C. Witness previously reported that Aceyson’s sister often got into fights with other children while she was at school. Zucker asked the mother if she punished her daughter for fighting other kids.

“No, because that is what she does. She is a tomboy,” the mother said.

Zucker also addressed an incident where the mother punched Embre in the face.

According to the mother, the incident occurred when she found out Embre punished her daughter by smacking her.

The mother said she instructed her daughter to punch Embre in the face because he hit her.

The mother proceeded to tell the jury that she asked her daughter, “was that enough?” and her daughter replied “no.” Once again, she told her daughter to punch Embre in the face. The mother also punched Embre in the face when her daughter finished.

Embre did not retaliate against the mother or the daughter, according to the mother.

Zucker also asked Aceyson’s mother about an occasion where she walked in on her daughter standing on Aceyson. The mother said her daughter was not standing on Aceyson, like she previously told the police. Instead, the mother said the girl had her foot against the baby’s body.

Aceyson’s mother said her daughter would do this stuff occasionally because she was “jealous of Aceyson.”

This article was written by Katlyn Richardson

Counsel Informs Judge of Progress in Triple Homicide Case

During a felony status conference on Sept. 25, counsel updated a DC Superior Court judge on the progress of their investigations

Rakeem Willis is charged with premeditated first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Sean Shuler, 26, Javon Abney, 26, and Tyrik Hagood, 24. The shooting occurred on Jan. 26 on the 1500 block of Fort Davis Place, SE.

The prosecution told Judge Danya Dayson that an indictment is expected before the March 12 deadline.

Defense attorney Kevin McCants also said he would like to schedule another felony status conference because he was added to the case in August. He said he needs time to get familiar with the case.

D.C. Witness previously reported that Judge Dayson found probable cause that Willis was connected to the murders because, during the time of the incident, the path of the suspect’s vehicle matched locations from Willis’ phone records. An eyewitness connected Willis to the phone, confirming that he used it before and after the murder, according a Metropolitan Police Department detective.

Judge Dayson said the evidence does not point to Willis pulling the trigger, but the matching locations of the suspect’s vehicle and Willis’ phone records indicate that he was involved.

Also, Willis had a previous connection to one of the victims and was possibly going to meet the victim on the night of the shooting.

The court scheduled another felony status conference on Dec. 4.

Judge Continues Murder Defendant’s Preliminary Hearing, Again

A DC Superior Court judge granted the defense a continuance for a preliminary hearing in a murder case.

Lance Ammons, 42, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 62 year-old Robert Bolich on the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge on Aug. 22.

During a preliminary hearing on Sept. 25, Ammons’ defense counsel, Ieshaah Murphy, requested a continuance for third week in October.

Murphy did not say why she wanted to continue the hearing.

Judge Todd Edelman granted a continuance. a new preliminary hearing is scheduled on Oct. 22.

This is the second time the preliminary hearing has been continued. The first hearing was rescheduled because Ammons was unable to appear in court because court forms were not filled out properly.

Ammons is being held without bail.

According to court documents, Ammons, who was homeless at the time of the murder, allegedly stabbed Bolich multiple times after hearing the “devil’s voice” urging him to do it. Bolich was working on renovations to the bridge at the time. He worked for HNTB Corp, an infrastructure design firm with headquarters in Kansas City, Mo.

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