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Defense Requests Witness’s Statement to Police

During a hearing April 29, a murder defendant’s attorney reminded the court that she requested a witness’s videotaped statement to police.

Dejuan George is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 46-year-old Abdul Watts on the 5600 block of Dix Street, NE on Jan. 8.

In response to the defense’s request, DC Superior Court Judge Dayson informed counsel that she received the video from the prosecution and that she plans on making a ruling on what portions the prosecution is obligated to give to the defense.

D.C. Witness previously reported that Judge Dayson ordered March 29 that George, 25, be released to a halfway house. 

However, George is currently being detained at DC Jail. Counsel did not address why he has not been placed at a halfway house.

According to court documents, Watts sustained multiple stab wounds to the chest. Footage from a body-worn camera appears to show Watts identifying George as his assailant. However, the audio from the footage is not clear.

George is scheduled for a felony status conference on May 31.

Document: Homicide on Canal Road, NW

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a homicide that occurred on the 5200 block of Canal Road, NW.

According to a press release, officers located a man suffering from multiple sharp force injuries. The man died on the scene. Police have not released the man’s identity at this time.

Up to a $25,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in this case 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.

D.C. Witness will provide updates to the case as they are released.



Judge Takes Time To Decide on Protective Order

A D.C. Superior Court Judge said he would wait three weeks to rule on a prosecutor’s protective order, which would conceal the identities of key witnesses to the defense.

Kurt and Demonte Hewitt are charged with second-degree murder while armed for their alleged role in the stabbing death of 16-year-old Tyshon Perry on the 1300 block of 2nd Street, NE. According to the prosecution, Kurt and Demonte are cousins.

During the hearing on April 26, a prosecutor said she filed a protective order, which would conceal the identities of key witnesses to defense. She said that many of the witnesses were juveniles, and she feared that if Kurt and Demonte knew the names, it may put the witnesses in danger.

However, defense attorney, Lauren Johnson, said she would be unable to complete an investigation without the names of the witnesses.

Johnson said the prosecution’s case is set on the testimony of witnesses. She said several of the witnesses gave police conflicting statements, and, if she was unable to ask her client about the witnesses, there would be no way to properly refute the government’s claims. Johnson also said she would not ask for contact information of the witnesses.

Judge Craig Iscoe said he would not make a decision on the protective order until he had time to review case law about the subject. He said that he would let counsel know his ruling before the next status hearing that is scheduled on May 28.

According to court documents, Perry had gotten into an argument with a female student from KIPP DC College Preparatory, a school in Northeast DC. The female student allegedly threatened Perry, who was later attacked by a group of men by the NOMA Gallaudet University Metro stop.

 

Judge Continues Sentencing, Per Defense’s Request

A DC Superior Court judge continued a murder defendant’s sentencing after his attorney notified the court April 26, the original sentencing date, that he was “not prepared.”

In February, Policarpo Casarrubias-Rodriguez pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed for fatally stabbing his roommate, 37-year-old Israel Gomez, on the 3100 Block of 16th Street, NW on Sept. 9, 2018.

Casarrubias-Rodriguez, 45, is now scheduled to be sentenced on May 31.

During the hearing, defense attorney Matthew Davies supplemented his assertion saying, he’s been in trial as a result needs more time in order to be prepared to go forward with sentencing.

The prosecution had no objection but noted that some of Gomez’s relatives traveled a long distance to be present for the sentencing.

According to court documents, prior to the stabbing, Casarrubias-Rodriguez and Gomez got into a physical altercation stemming from a dispute over a chair. After the fight was over, Casarrubias-Rodriguez got a knife and stabbed Gomez once in the back.

D.C. Witness previously reported that a judge said the defendant confessed to the crime after he was arrested.

‘I Remember Panicking,’ Witness Says After Hearing Shooting

During a murder trial April 25, the prosecution played a recording of a witness’s testimony, which places the defendant at the crime scene.

Derryck Decuir is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the shooting death of 15-year-old Malek Dayvon Mercer on the 2800 block of 28th Street, SE. Decuir, 26, has been tried for the murder twice before. Both trials resulted in mistrials after juries could not come to a unanimous decision.

The witness testified in both previous trials, however, he could not be located for the third trial. A transcript and audio recording of his testimony from the last trial was introduced to the jury as evidence.

The witness said that on the night of the shooting, he was drinking with Decuir and another individual at a family gathering. After the gathering, the witness said his group was waiting at a bus stop with two young men, one of whom was Mercer.

The witness said he asked one of the young men for a cigarette and Decuir complimented Mercer on a Versace belt, however, Mercer “snickered” in response to Decuir’s comment.

The witness said both groups got on the bus and sat in the back. The witness said his group was heading back to his house, but Decuir got off at the wrong stop, with the two boys.

“I was following Derryck,” the witness said, although he said he didn’t know where Decuir was headed. “The people I came with got off, so I got off.”

The witness said he was not walking with Decuir when he heard the gunshot. He said he crouched, looked around and saw Decuir zipping up a backpack near Mercer, who was on the ground.

“My mind went blank after that. I remember panicking,” the witness said. “I knew somebody had a gun.”

A detective also testified and said someone identified Decuir as the shooter. However, Decuir denied being involved during an initial interview with the police.

According to the prosecution’s theory, Decuir became enraged after Mercer “snickered” at him. Decuir then followed Mercer off the bus and shot him in the neck.

The defense said Decuir acted in self-defense after he saw Mercer pull a shotgun out of his bag.

The trial is scheduled to continue on April 29.

Judge Sentences 65-Year-Old Defendant to 4.5 Years in Prison

On April 26, a DC Superior Court judge sentenced a 65-year-old murder defendant to 4.5 years in prison.

Manuel Pupo-Leyvas pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter for killing Jose Romero Ramirez on the 2500 block of 17th St., NW in 2016. He was initially charged with second-degree murder. 

During the sentencing, the prosecutor said she agreed with defense counsel that 4.5 years, which is six months below the recommended sentencing range, was an acceptable term because of the “unusual circumstances” of the murder.

According to the prosecutor, Pupo-Leyvas punched Ramirez in the stomach during an argument, but, because Rameriz had health problems, the injury was enough to cause internal bleeding and death. The prosecutor said the sentence agreement was low because Pupo-Leyvas did not have a weapon at the time of the murder.

Defense attorney Dana Page said her client was deeply remorseful for his actions and did not intend to kill Ramirez. Page said that Pupo-Leyvas struggled with alcoholism, which she said caused Pupo-Leyvas to fight with Rameriez. 

“I didn’t mean to hurt him the way that I did,” said Pupo-Leyvas in a statement to Judge Craig Iscoe.

Following statements from counsel, Judge Iscoe sentenced Pupo-Leyvas to 54 months, or 4.5 years, and said he would recommend Pupo-Leyvas serve his sentence in a medical facility due to his age.

After his sentence, Pupo-Leyvas will also be required to serve five years on supervised release.

Judge Sentences Defendant to 11.5 Years for Murder

Nearly eight years after stabbing his neighbor to death over a lawnmower, a murder defendant was sentenced April 25 to 11.5 years in prison.

In January,William Hunt pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed for stabbing 48-year-old George White on the 400 block of Newcomb Street, SE in 2011.

Along with his Hunt’s sentence, DC Superior Court Judge Lopez also recommended that he serve that time at a medical facility. Hunt, 63, has several health issues, including a precancerous condition and joint disease, that will require treatment while he’s incarcerated. 

“I wish I could take it all back,” Hunt said addressing the court.

Defense attorney Amy Phillips, said Hunt was “deeply remorseful” for his actions and accepted full responsibility for killing White. Phillips said Hunt said he wanted to “pay his debt to society” and return home to his daughter and granddaughter, who were present in the courtroom during sentencing.  

The prosecutor said that Hunt committed a “heinous” crime against his neighbor, who considered him a friend. Apparently, Hunt stabbed White more than 60 times.

According to DC Courts, Hunt was arrested in 2014 and was later deemed incompetent to stand trial in 2015. D.C. Witness previously reported that Hunt was found competent on Jan. 28. During the sentencing, Phillips said Hunt still requires mental health care.

Court documents state White confronted Hunt, who was mowing his lawn, after he was woken up by the sound of a lawnmower. After the argument ended, Hunt entered White’s residence and repeatedly stabbed him.

Following his sentence, Hunt is expected to serve five years on supervised release.

Judge Releases Murder Defendant Despite Accusations of Death Threats

During a detention hearing April 25, a DC Superior Court judge ordered a murder defendant released to a halfway house amid accusations of death threats and “habitual” drug use.

Joseph Smith is charged with voluntary manslaughter while armed for his alleged role in the death of his 62-year-old brother, Arnold Smith, in their family home located on the 600 block of Galveston Place, SE on April 9.

During the hearing, the prosecution notified the court that someone outside of the family who was around Smith for the past year said she heard him say he was going to “gut the decedent like a fish.” 

The witness also told the prosecution that she was present when Smith threatened to burn down the house. Apparently, the threat was two weeks prior to the stabbing.

The prosecution also told the court that Smith had an “intense” addiction to PCP, a mind altering drug. The witness said Smith had a “glassy eyed” appearance on multiple occasions and that there was a bad odor near his room in the house.

In response, Judge Danya Dayson acknowledged the witnesses statements and said she believes Smith poses a threat to his family and potentially to the community. However, after the defense made representations concerning Smith’s health at the bench, Judge Dayson agreed to release him to a halfway house.

Per the conditions of his release, Smith is required to wear a GPS monitor and submit to drug testing. He must also stay away from his sister and his family home on Galveston Place and not initiate contact with his elderly parents.

D.C. Witness previously reported that Judge Dayson found probable cause and was debating if she should release Smith under the high intensity supervision program (HISP) pending his drug test results.

Smith is scheduled for a felony status conference on July 26.

Judge Finds Probable Cause, Holds Murder Defendant Without Bail

A DC Superior Court Magistrate judge found probable cause April 25 and ordered that a 26-year-old murder defendant be held without bail.

Keith Anthony Johnson is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the death of 49-year-old Edwin Richardson on the 2900 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, SE on April 5. According to court documents, Richardson was stabbed after a group of men chased him through an intersection.

After hearing arguments from counsel, Judge Errol Arthur found probable cause for murder, saying that even if Johnson didn’t stab Richardson, he was an “active participant” in the events leading to the murder.

Defense attorney, Dominique Winters, said surveillance footage, which shows a group of men chasing Richardson prior to his death, didn’t show the actual stabbing. Winters said the prosecution has no evidence that Johnson knew about the stabbing, which means there’s no proof Johnson aided in Richardson’s death.

In turn, the prosecution said Johnson was identifiable on the footage because he was wearing a red jacket. The prosecutor said Johnson chased Richardson through an intersection with a group of other men, which the prosecutor argued is proof that Johnson knew of the stabbing. Apparently, Johnson also spoke to police and admitted to getting in an argument with Richardson and said he “enjoyed” chasing him.

Regarding release, Winters acknowledged that Johnson has three pending misdemeanor cases, but said that he doesn’t have weapons or felony charges that would make him a danger to society.

However, the prosecutor said Johnson was already on probation at the time of his arrest, and that he had failed to appear in court. The prosecutor also said Johnson’s family was evicted prior to his arrest and that he was unemployed, which would make him more likely to commit crimes upon release. 

“We don’t detain people because they’re homeless or unemployed,” Winters said addressing the prosecution’s argument.

Johnson is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on May 6.

Teenager Pleads Guilty to September Homicide

During a hearing April 25, a teenage murder defendant pleaded guilty for his role in the death of a man who was killed outside of his grandmother’s home.

Jamal Blocker pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed in connection to the death of 23-year-old Damon Dickens on the 2500 block of Bowen Road, SE on Sept. 24, 2018. According to the Washington Post, Dickens was visiting from out of town. family believes that he wasn’t the intended target. 

Per the terms of the plea agreement, the prosecution agreed to downgrade Blocker’s first-degree murder charge to second-degree murder while armed. As stated in the 2018 voluntary sentencing guidelines, Blocker, 17, could face a maximum sentence of life in prison.

While Blocker is a minor, DC Superior Court Judge Ronna Beck said he is not eligible to be sentenced under the Youth Act. Title I of the Youth Rehabilitation Amendment Act of 2018 states that eligible minors have to be charged with offenses other than murder.

According to a proffer of facts, Blocker approached Dickens and an unidentified individual, whom he knew, and opened fire. Apparently, Blocker fled the scene.

Blocker is currently being held in a juvenile facility, according to DC Courts. Per the defense’s request, he will remain in the facility until his sentencing, which is scheduled on Aug. 23.

Document: Police Arrest Second Suspects in April Homicide

A day after announcing the arrest of an initial suspect, the Metropolitan Police Department arrested a second suspect in connection to an April fatal shooting in Southeast DC.

According to a press release, 26-year-old Keith Anthony Johnson was arrested April 24 and charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the death of 49-year-old Edwin Richardson on the 2900 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, SE on April 5.

D.C. Witness previously reported that 18-year-old Kevon Pinkett was arrested April 23 and charged with second-degree murder while armed in connection to Richardson’s death.

Follow D.C. Witness for updates on the case.



Expert Links Murder to Defendant’s Gun

During a murder trial April 24, an expert said gun shell casings found at a crime scene were consistent with being fired from a gun allegedly owned by the defendant.

Derryck Decuir is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the shooting death of 15-year-old Malek Dayvon Mercer on the 2800 block of 28th Street, SE. Decuir, 26, has been tried twice before. Both trials resulted in mistrials after the juries could not come to a unanimous decision regarding his murder charge.

A firearms expert testified that ballistics on the crime scene are consistent with markings left on cartridge casings found near Mercer’s body.

“We identified this pistol as being the one that fired that cartridge case,” the expert said.

A detective said Decuir’s cell phone contained text messages regarding a Ruger P85. The detective said there were also internet searches regarding that specific kind of handgun.

A witness also testified that Decuir’s girlfriend asked him to “take care of some jerseys in the backyard.” The witness said he eventually realized Decuir was talking about guns.

D.C. Witness previously reported that Decuir referred to his guns as “dogs” and “jerseys.”

According to the prosecution’s theory, Mercer “snickered” at the defendant after he made a comment about Mercer’s belt. The prosecution said Decuir became enraged, followed Mercer off a bus and shot him in the neck.

The defense, however, said Decuir fired in self-defense after he saw Mercer pulling a shotgun out of his bag.

The trial is scheduled to continue on April 25.

A Murder Trial’s ‘Critical Witness’ is Missing

The day before a murder trial was slated to resume, the prosecution notified the court that they were still missing a key witness after weeks of searching.

Derryck Decuir is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the shooting death of Malek Dayvon Mercer on the 2800 block of 28th Street, SE. Decuir, 26, has been tried twice before. Both trials resulted in mistrials after the juries could not come to a unanimous decision regarding Decuir’s murder charge.

Apparently, the missing witness testified in both of Decuir’s previous trials.

Amid the defense’s rebuttals, DC Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe said he was satisfied with the prosecution’s search efforts and proposed that an oral recording of the witness’s testimony, along with the transcript, be used during the current trial.

The audio was released to counsel for review.

The prosecution said attempts were made to reach out to the witness, along with his family and friends, but they were unable to locate the witness. Apparently, the witness did not show up to a meeting with his probation officer and has been missing since.

The prosecution said marshals made an effort to locate the witness and even followed up on leads in Bennettsville, S.C. where the witness was allegedly residing.

The prosecution deemed the witness “unavailable” and requested to introduce a transcript of the witness’s previous testimony to the jury.

The defense, however, said the prosecution started searching for their “critical witness” too late and did not take all of the appropriate steps to locate him. 

D.C. Witness previously reported that the prosecution was missing six witnesses prior to the trial. As of April 9, the prosecution said that three of the six had been located. 

 

Witnesses Could Be ‘In Peril,’ Prosecution Says

The prosecution in a murder case said there was a plan to file a protective order that would ensure that witnesses don’t become the targets of retaliation.

Eric Smith is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 38-year-old Rondell Wills on the 200 block of 50th Street, NE in 2018.

The prosecution said the protective order would keep the defense from revealing witnesses’ identities. The prosecution said Smith, 19, may have associates that could put witnesses “in peril.”

“We believe the actual shooter is still at large,” the prosecution said. “To give the witness names to the defendant would be dangerous.”

According to DC Courts, the prosecution filed a motion for a protective order on April 24.

In response, the defense said the order is a substantial infringement of his client’s constitutional rights and that it is “inappropriate” for the prosecution to tell the defense how to conduct their investigation.

DC Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe said he was concerned about keeping information from the defendant and said he needed time to review the order.

“I am wary of an order that does not let a defendant see what his lawyer sees,” Judge Iscoe said.

Smith is scheduled for a status hearing on May 17.

According to court documents, a car drove by the Benning Road Metro Station and started following a witness. The witness said one of the individuals in the car opened fire, so the witness ran in the direction of where Wills was seated on 50th Street.

Wills was shot in the process, documents state.

The car used in the drive-by was later located, and Smith’s fingerprints were found on the car’s interior rearview mirror, documents said.

Document: Police Announce Arrest in Southeast DC Homicide

The Metropolitan Police Department arrested a suspect in a fatal stabbing 900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, Southeast.

According to a press release, 18-year-old Kevon Pinkett was arrested and charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the death of 49-year-old Edwin Richardson on April 5.

Follow D.C. Witness for updates on the case.