Judge Schedules Trial for Homicide Case

During a trial readiness hearing Sept. 12, counsel discussed possible witnesses being called during trial.

Edward Brown, 55, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 71-year-old Michael Mahoney on the 2300 block of 11th St., NW on Feb. 5, 2018.

DC Superior Court Judge Milton C. Lee asked how many witnesses each side planned on calling in order to gauge the length of trial.

The prosecution said they would have between 20-25 witnesses and possibly two additional expert witnesses.

Defense counsel, Kevin Irving, said he would only call one DNA expert and possibly an additional fingerprint analysis expert.

Jury selection is scheduled on Sept. 16. Opening statements are slated to begin on Sept. 18.

According to court documents, police found Mahoney in his apartment on 11th Street suffering from two stab wounds to his neck. Multiple witnesses told police that Mahoney allowed Brown, 56, to sleep on his couch.

One of Mahoney’s neighbors told police that on the same day police found Mahoney, Brown came to the neighbor’s apartment to shower. Apparently, the clothes he was wearing contained blood. The neighbor also found multiple articles of clothing and a towel stained with blood, the documents said.

Murder Defendant’s Trial Set to Begin in October

During a status hearing Sept. 11, a judge sets a jury trial date for a homicide case.

Eunise Roosevelt Melton is charged with first-degree murder with an unknown metal object for his alleged involvement in the death of Jerimi Meade on July 15, 2016. The crime took place on the 400 block of Burbank Street, SE.

DC Supreme Court Judge Danya Dayson scheduled a motions hearing on Oct 21. Additionally, Judge Dayson scheduled the jury trial to begin Oct. 22.

According to court documents Meade, 29, sustained more than ten blows to the head and face consistent with a claw hammer found on the scene.

Murder Defendant Accused of Killing Baby Starts Trial Next Week

A trial is set to begin on Sept. 16 in a case of a man accused of killing a two-year-old boy.

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 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.

During jury selection, which took place on Sept. 11, a large part of the vetting on jurors was on biases towards mental health.

On Sept. 9, a prosecutor and defense attorneys discussed possible limitations for selecting members of the jury pool with DC Superior Court Judge Juliet McKenna.

All parties agreed that since there would be multiple witnesses with mental health complications on the stand, any jurors that were selected should not have an existing bias on mental illnesses.

Johnathan Zucker, Embre’s defense attorney said he did not care if the jurors knew the witnesses suffered from mental illnesses. Instead, Zucker said he wants the jurors to be able to accept the witnesses’ testimonies without a bias.

According to court documents, on April 17, 2018, after picking up Ahmad from daycare Embre, 26 went into Ahmad’s bedroom, which the child shared with his older sister.

Embre told the girl to leave the room and then began beating Ahmad until he was vomiting, according to the documents. The child was not conscious when he arrived at a local hospital.

Ahmad’s sister told police that she saw Embre hit Ahmad after she was told to leave the room. She also said that Embre had hit both of them multiple times before.

Judge Allows Murder Defendant to Stay At Halfway House

During a status hearing Sept. 11, a judge permitted a murder defendant to remain at a halfway house under the high intensity supervision program (HISP).

Jordan Smith, 32, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and two firearm offenses for his alleged role in the fatal shooting of Yashika Green, 42, on the 200 block of Wayne Place, SE in 2017.

DC Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe denied the prosecution’s motion to reconsider the release of Smith to a halfway house. Judge Iscoe said the prosecution’s argument for Smith being a public danger was weak since the prosecutor agreed to release Smith to the halfway house in August.

The judge also ordered Smith to stay away from the crime scene.

The prosecutor told Judge Iscoe that she wanted to hold Smith without bail. She said Smith was a danger to the community because of the alleged offense, previous probation violations and charges in Maryland, including illegal possession of a firearm.

During a hearing on Aug. 20, the prosecutor said she was concerned that Smith was tampering with witnesses and obstructing justice. According to the prosecutor, Smith attempted to contact his ex-girlfriend after the homicide.

Defense counsel Mani Golzari said many other people tried to contact the witness as well since she “fell off the face of the earth,” according to Golzari. Defense counsel said Smith’s attempt to contact the witness was not evidence of witness tampering.

Golzari also said Smith was not a flight risk, citing a nine-month period between the homicide and Smith’s arrest in which he made no attempt to leave the District.

Smith is ordered to refrain from contacting any other witnesses. He is scheduled for a trial readiness hearing on Oct. 16.

New Counsel Says She Will Be Ready for Murder Trial

During a status hearing Sept. 11, a murder defendant was appointed a new attorney.

Jessie Taylor, 43, is charged with second-degree murder while armed and two gun offenses for his alleged role in the shooting death of 49-year-old Bernadette King on the 2400 block of Elvans Road, SE in 2018.

Taylor’s defense attorney, Eugene Ohm, withdrew from the case for reasons not specified in court. Domonique Winters was appointed by DC Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe to represent the defendant on Sept. 11.

Judge Iscoe asked Winters if she would be prepared for the scheduled trial date in February, Winters said she expects to be ready. She did not request a new trial date.

Taylor is scheduled for a status hearing on Oct. 11.

Defense Asks for Identity of Key Witness in Murder Case

Defense counsel asked the prosecution to unvail the identity of a key witness in a murder.

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

Kristin McGough, Daniel’s defense attorney, said she has been waiting nearly a month for the prosecution to send her the information. McGough said she filed a motion for the information in July.

The defense insisted on a timely release of the name of the witness due to the fact that Daniel was being held in jail. A protective order, restricting McGough from sharing the witness’s information with the defendant or any one else on her team, was granted in July.

Apparently, the witness told the police that the shooter was another individual completely unrelated to Daniel. The witness never gave the police Daniel’s name, either.

D.C. Witness previously reported that the same witness told a Metropolitan Police Department detective that the suspect was a heavy-set black man.

DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson said the identity of the witness is central to the trial. However, she added that she understands, due to the dangerous nature of releasing a witness’s identity, the prosecution’s decision to hand it over can take longer.

Judge Dayson ruled that the prosecution should present a decision to the defense within the next two weeks.

A felony status conference is scheduled on Sept. 25.

Judge Grants Defense’s Request for Witness’s Information

A DC Superior Court judge granted the defense’s motion for a witness’s identification on Sept. 10.

Demetrius Pierce, also known as Orlando Little, 32, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the shooting of 68-year-old Nazir Ahmad on Nov. 3, 2018, on the 900 block of Brentwood Road, NE. Pierce is being held without bail.

Judge Todd Edelman granted the defense’s motion to gather identifying information for a witness that may be an alternative suspect in the crime.

However, the motion was granted in part with a protective order that will prevent defense counsel, Jeffrey D. Stein, from sharing the witness’s identity with Pierce. Stein may only share the name and birthdate of the witness with his co-counsel.

Stein discussed his reason for requesting the identifying information off the record.

Pierce is being linked to the crime by a red baseball cap that was found in an area near the crime scene, containing his DNA.

Pierce is scheduled for a status hearing on Jan. 31, 2020, where the defense will decide if independent DNA will be conducted.

Murder Defendant Receives 20-Year Sentence

A murder case finally closed two years after a jury found a defendant guilty of killing a woman in Southeast, DC.

Delonte Javon Wynn was found guilty of first-degree murder while armed on June 26, 2017, for murdering 46-year-old Darlene Marie Bryant on the 4300 block of Wheeler Road, SE on May 13, 2015.

During a sentencing hearing on Sept. 10, Wynn accepted a 20-year plea deal from the prosecution for second-degree murder while armed. The case has remained open since Wynn filed for a new trial after the jury’s verdict in 2017, according to DC Courts.

Wynn’s defense attorney, Gretchen Franklin, asked DC Superior Court Judge Zoe Bush to give Wynn a 14-year sentence because of all the good acts Wynn has done since he has been incarcerated.

“He is not the person he was when he killed,” Franklin said.

Judge Bush said a 20-year sentence was appropriate, considering the crime as well as the work Wynn has done while incarcerated.

Apparently, Wynn has helped the Metropolitan Police Department with more than ten criminal cases since he has been in jail, including homicides, cold cases and drug cases.

Wynn also completed several classes, including life skills, computer classes, drug classes, finance classes and was a lead speaker for a family course.

“There is no justification for what I did,” Wynn told the victim’s family. “If I could trade places with her I would. I’m deeply sorry that I did what I did.”

Wynn said he stabbed Bryant because she stole some of his belongings. He said he was very upset because he always had Bryant’s back in bad situations.

The victim’s family opted not to speak.

Wynn will receive credit for time served, according to DC Courts.

Murder Defendant Withdraws Guilty Plea, Receives New Counsel

During a status hearing on Sept. 10, a murder defendant withdrew his guilty plea and asked for new counsel.

Saeed Woodall pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed in May. He was initially charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the shooting death of Deonta Farrar, 32, on the 4500 block of Quarles Street, NE in 2016.

According to court documents, Woodall, 26, had been trying to withdraw his plea on May 4. He was able to successfully file a motion to withdraw on Sept. 4, four months later.

Woodall’s defense counsel, Elizabeth Weller, also withdrew from the case, saying there could be an appearance of conflict if she represented the defendant any further. Weller did not specify what she meant by her statement.

DC Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe accepted Woodall’s change of plea and appointed Michael Madden as his new defense counsel. Madden was not present at the hearing.

This is the second time Woodall has been appointed new counsel, according to DC Courts.

An ascertainment of counsel hearing is scheduled on Sept. 23 to verify if Madden can represent Woodall.

Woodall is being held without bail.

Document: 16-Year-Old Murdered in Ward 8

The Metropolitan Police Department is currently investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on Sept. 10.

According to a press release, officers heard gunshots and responded to the scene to find 16-year-old Steffen Brathwaite suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the 3000 block of 24th Place, SE. He 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.

Insanity Plea Is Questionable, Prosecution Says

A prosecutor requested Sept. 6 another status hearing to determine the validity of the defense’s motion for an insanity plea.

Malcolm Cunningham, 24, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and two counts of burglary of a senior citizen for his alleged involvement in the murder of 79-year-old David Norwood on the 600 block of C Street, NE on April 16, 2017.

On March 22, 2018, Cunningham entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.

The prosecution filed April 4 a motion to send grand jury paperwork to the District of Columbia’s Department of Behavioral Health. The prosecution also appointed experts based on the defense’s motion to examine the defendant for criminal responsibility.

“Two witnesses said the defendant was insane at the time of the crime but according to our experts Mr. Cunningham was sane during the crime,” a prosecutor told the court.

A status hearing is set on Sept. 19 to discuss what the prosecution’s experts have discovered.

The prosecution also offered Cunningham a plea deal for second-degree murder on Sept. 6. According to the terms of the deal, the defendant would serve 12-24 years. The deal would drop Cunningham’s burglary charges.

The prosecution offered Cunningham the same plea deal in 2018. He rejected the deal last November.

According to the District of Columbia’s voluntary sentencing guidelines, a murder defendant who has a criminal history score between 0-0.5, could serve between 30-60 years in prison if convicted of just first-degree murder while armed.

Murder Defendant Pleads Guilty

On Sept. 9, a murder defendant pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and assault with a dangerous weapon.

Timothy Gibson, 28, was initially charged with first-degree murder while armed for his role in the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Carl Day-Baker on the 1500 block of T Street, SE on Sept. 1, 2018.

Gibson was initially scheduled to begin trial on Sept. 9, but the trial was vacated in light of the plea.

Defense counsel, Eugene Ohm, told the judge that he and the prosecution agreed on a sentence of 9.5 years.

DC Superior Court Judge Danya A. Dayson accepted Gibson’s guilty plea, but she reminded Gibson that she could reject it at a later date.

According to the District of Columbia’s voluntary sentencing guidelines, a defendant with a criminal history score between 0 and 1.5, who is charged with voluntary manslaughter while armed could face a prison term between 7.5 years to 15 years. A first-degree murder while armed charges holds a voluntary sentencing span between 30 years-60 years in prison under the same score.

Gibson is scheduling for sentencing on Nov. 22.

Judge Rules Murder Under DC Jurisdiction

A judge ruled Sept. 9 that a homicide occurred in the District of Columbia instead of Maryland.

Terrance Barnes, who is also known as Michael Barnes, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Barry Holmes, 57, on the the 5100 block of Southern Avenue, SE near the border of DC and Maryland in April.

On July 31, Barnes’s defense attorney, Jefferey Stein, submitted a motion of dismissal for lack of jurisdiction.

Stein said the prosecution did not have sufficient evidence to prove whether the final shot was fired in the District or Maryland. Apparently, the street the incident occurred on is split by the border.

A witness said “the shooter ran up Heath Street, which is located in Maryland,” Stein told the judge. Apparently, witnesses of the alleged crime said they heard shots and saw the victim on the ground within DC city limits.

However, to prove the incident occurred in DC, a prosecutor said Holmes suffered from muzzle burns on his chest. The burns could only be inflicted by a close range shot, the prosecutor said.

DC Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe denied the defense’s motion for dismissal for lack of jurisdiction. He said his decision was based on the accounts of several witnesses as well as the burns on the victim’s chest.

A felony status conference is scheduled on Jan. 17.

Judge Finds Probable Cause, Holds Murder Defendant

On Sept. 9, a DC Superior Court judge decided there was probable cause a murder defendant shot a man earlier this summer. She ruled that he should be held without bail.

Keandre Barber is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 29-year-old Juan Marcell Grant on the 700 block of Princeton Place, NW on June 19.

Even though Judge Dana Dayson said the evidence presented by the prosecution pointed to more probabilities than actual certainties, she said video from the alley places Barber at the scene of the crime when it took place.

On the video, Barber,19, is seen with the victim and another person. The other person and Barber seem appear to be leading Grant in the video, the judge said.

Video and GPS evidence place Barber closer to the crime scene than the other person, so it is more likely that Barber shot and killed the victim, the judge said.

The preliminary hearing was initially scheduled on Sept. 6, however Judge Dayson continued the hearing because she needed more time to mull over the evidence.

Defense attorney, Mani Golzari said there was a need for the prosecution to identify the specific evidence that identified Barber as the shooter.

Golzari said there is more than one entrance and exit to the alley where the shooting occurred, leaving the possibility for a different shooter. Video footage of the defendant does not show intent to kill Grant, it also shows Barber and the other person leaving the alley from different directions.

Even so, the prosecution said the video indicates that Barber aided and abetted the other person in the pursuit of the victim.

The prosecutor also said the defendant admitted to knocking out the victim the day prior to the murder.

After finding probable cause, Judge Dayson also refused to release Barber to a halfway house, citing his prior firearms possession conviction. According to DC Courts, Barber was convicted of possession in March.

He is scheduled for a felony status conference on Oct. 3.

Judge Sentences A Murder Defendant to 15 Years in Prison

A judge sentenced Sept. 6, a murder defendant to 15 years in prison after denying his motion to take back a plea.

In April, Ricardo Daquan Boston pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. He was initially charged with first-degree murder while armed, among other offenses, for his role in the shooting death of 20-year-old Dante Coleman on the 3900 block of First Street, SE in 2017. The plea stipulated a sentence range of between 10 and 15 years.

The very next day, defense attorney Dorsey Jones filed an appeal of the sentence with DC Superior Courts. According to the appeal, Jones reason for appeal was because DC Superior Court Judge Todd E. Edelman denied Boston’s motion to take back his plea.

Jones also requested a change of counsel.

The appeal was denied on Sept. 9 and Boston’s original 15 year sentence was reinstated, according to DC Courts.

Boston is also required to serve 5 additional years on supervised release after finishing his term in prison.

Judge Edelman recommended that Boston be sent to a facility that will allow him to have vocational training, anger management and drug treatment.

“If anyone thinks pictures are important, wait until that’s all you have left,” Coleman’s grandmother told DC Superior Court Judge Todd E. Edelman. Along with losing her grandson to violence, Coleman’s mother was also murdered. The date the victim’s mother was killed was not disclosed.

Boston maintained his defense that he shot Coleman after the victim attacked him and tried to take his gun. During the melee, Boston says he shot Coleman by accident and also shot himself in the arm.

“I do not believe your account,” Judge Edelman replied.

Judge Edelman said it didn’t make sense for Coleman to attack Boston when he knew he had a gun. Judge Edelman also said there was no evidence that Boston was ever shot.

Apparently, Boston flew to Texas and was arrested there. Authorities in Texas did not notice a bullet wound in Boston’s arm, the judge said.

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