Victim Died from Pre-Existing Heart Condition, Defense Says

During opening arguments in a murder trial, the prosecution said the defendant is responsible for beating a 41-year-old man to death. However, according to the defense, the defendant was provoked and the victim had a pre-existing heart condition.

Nathaniel Bryant is charged with voluntary and involuntary manslaughter for his alleged role in the death of Victor Drummings inside the Quality Inn parking garage on the 1600 block of New York Avenue, NE in 2015.

Bryant “beat him until his heart gave out,” the prosecutor said. The prosecution acknowledged Drummings’ genetic heart condition, but said it wasn’t the cause of his death. Apparently, one of the arteries in Drummings’ heart had a 75 percent blockage.

The prosecution said Bryant “sucker punched” Drummings, causing him to fall flat on his face. The prosecutor said Drummings was “trapped, drunk and alone.” She said he tried to fight back but that he was “uncoordinated.” The prosecutor said Bryant repeatedly punched and kicked the victim even as he tried to crawl away.

According to the prosecution’s theory, Bryant and two other females were leaving from a Halloween party at the Quality Inn when Drummings drunkenly started “flirting” with the women. The prosecution said Bryant got “annoyed” but that the women appeared unbothered in surveillance footage, which captured the exchange.

“Drummings was never a threat,” the prosecutor said. “Maybe, except to Bryant’s fragile ego.”

However, the defense provided a different perspective. Defense attorney, Nathaniel Mensah, said Drummings, who was drunk and high at the time, threatened the defendant. “Bryant did what Drummings forced him to do,” Mensah said.

Mensah also said Drummings threw the first punch. He said that as soon as Drummings stopped fighting, the defendant stopped “defending himself.”

Mensah told the jury to pay attention to the medical examiner’s report, which allegedly shows Drummings didn’t have any broken bones or fractures. Instead, Mensah said the report shows the victim had minor injuries consistent with losings a fist fight. He also said the report details Drummings’ heart condition.

Drummings “could’ve died just sitting on the couch,” Mensah said.

According to Mensah, Drummings’ blood alcohol level was four times the legal driving limit. He also said Drummings was high on PCP and marijuana and that he took “some pill.”

Drummings’ wife testified that her husband was healthy, denying any knowledge of a pre-existing heart condition. But, she said he “struggled” with PCP, a hallucinatory drug. According to court documents, Drummings was on parole in connection to a drug related case and was reporting for drug tests and attending a court ordered support group.

The trial is scheduled to resume on March 6.

February Homicides Down, Overall DC Homicides Up Nearly 88 Percent

Even though the shortest month of the year produced a decrease in homicides, February totals contributed to Washington, DC’s nearly 88 percent increase in homicides from this same time last year.

According to D.C. Witness data, there were 10 homicides in February, which was double the number of homicides in February of 2018.

Eight of the 10 homicides were gun-related deaths, one homicide was a stabbing and one was a hit and run. Police have apprehended two suspects as of March 5.

According to a press release, 36-year-old Morris Kenya Harley was arrested on Feb. 19 for his alleged involvement in the hit-and-run death of 35-year-old Daniel Olaya on the 1900 block of 4th Street, NW on Feb. 5.

Apparently, the two men were involved in an argument shortly before Olaya was hit. Harley is charged with first-degree murder while armed. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on March 29.

Police also arrested 34-year-old Darius Murphy on Feb. 22, hours after he allegedly stabbed 39-year-old Jason Wood on the 1600 block of Benning Road, NE. Murphy is charged with second-degree murder while armed. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on March 29.

“Homicide is a devastating crime,” DC Police Chief Peter Newsham told the Washington Post for an opinion piece about unsolved murders in the District. “Not only does it impact immediate families, but entire communities.” The piece was published on Feb. 1.

According to the Post, there are more than 2500 unsolved homicide cases from 1991-2018 in DC.

In addition to the 10 homicides, there were also two pedestrian fatalities in February.

On Feb. 11, 56-year-old Troy Sandy Austin was fatally struck by a 2009 BMW on the 1500 block of North Capitol Street, NW. No charges were filed.

On Feb. 20, another pedestrian was fatally hit on the 5000 block of North Capitol Street, NE. No charges were filed and the victim’s identity has not been released.

Defendant Pleads Guilty to 2015 Murder

During a status hearing March 1, a defendant accused of robbing and murdering a man in 2015 accepted a plea deal.

Ammaad Chase-El pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed and assault with the intent to commit robbery while armed for his role in the death of 34-year-old Antonio Ayala between 13th and Van Buren Street, NW. Brothers Javonte Odom and Herman Odom were also charged with Ayala’s murder.

Per the terms of the plea agreement, the prosecution would downgrade Chase-El’s first-degree murder charge to voluntary manslaughter. In addition, the prosecution added the assault with the intent to commit robbery charge.

Chase- El, 26, currently resides at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric hospital.

According to Chase- El’s defense attorney Elliott Queen, Chase-El doesn’t remember the murder because of his mental disabilities. As a result, Queen said Chase-El entered an Alford plea, which means he does not admit to committing the murder but is choosing to plead guilty because he believes prosecutors have enough evidence to convict him.

Queen also said he plans to submit forms that could allow Chase-El to be sentenced under the Youth Rehabilitation Act if he is found eligible.

D.C. Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson said Chase-El will remain at St. Elizabeth’s until his sentencing, which is scheduled on May 17.

The prosecution says that Chase-El and the Odom brothers assaulted Ayala with the intention of robbing him and shot him in the process.

Javonte, 23, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed and assault with the intent to commit robbery and was sentenced to 18 years in March 2018. Herman, 25, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and is scheduled for a status hearing on May 3.

Murder Victim’s Boyfriend Takes the Stand

A murder victim’s boyfriend took the stand March 4 and told a jury he and the victim were in an “exclusive” relationship. However, the defense sought to discredit his claim.

El Hadji Toure, 30, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, first-degree sexual abuse and robbery while armed, among other offenses, for his alleged role in the death of 34-year-old Corrina Mehiel on the 600 block of 14th Street, NE in 2017. According to the prosecution, Mehiel was a visiting artist from North Carolina.

“To me, it was the kind of relationship you make plans together,” the boyfriend said describing his relationship with Mehiel and his projections for the future.

The boyfriend said he was with Mehiel the weekend before her death. He said they had their first date in February of 2017, one month before her death.

According to the boyfriend, the two remained in frequent contact via text messages and phone calls. He said when she was home in North Carolina he would visit her three to four times a week.

During cross-examination, the defense noted Mehiel and the boyfriend’s relationship began on Tinder, a dating app. She also said Mehiel was away for work during the majority of their nearly six week relationship.

The boyfriend agreed their relationship was mostly long distance but said their plan was for North Carolina to be their “home base.” He said that even though they didn’t call each other “boyfriend” or “girlfriend,” it was “implied.”

The defense also asked about the knife he carries as a part of his job, working on a farm. He said that it is a Leatherman multi-tool that was equipped with a knife. Apparently, when he was interviewed by detectives, they did not take the tool or examine it.

During the trial, a forensic expert testified about examining Toure’s car, which he allegedly bought with the money he stole from Mehiel’s account.

According to the expert, she found a pocket knife in the driver’s side door. She said the knife’s tip appeared to be broken off. She also said she found Toure’s passport, among other things, in the trunk of the car.

According to the prosecution’s theory, Toure is responsible for binding, sexually assaulting and repeatedly stabbing Mehiel to death. The prosecution says he tortured her and stole her credit cards.

The trial is scheduled to continue on March 5.

Thamar Bailey contributed to this article.

Judge Denies Motion to Separate Murder Defendants

During a hearing March 4, a judge denied a defense attorney’s motion to separate two murder defendants.

Co-defendants Nyekemia Everett and Malik Hewitt are charged with first-degree murder while armed, among other offenses, for their alleged involvement in the shooting of 37-year-old Christopher Heard on the 2300 block of Ainger Place, SE in 2017. According to court documents, Everett, 33, and Hewitt, 38, allegedly planned to rob Heard, shooting him in the process.

With Feb. 24, 2020, being the earliest trial date for the case, Everett’s defense attorney, Laurence Socci motioned to separate the defendants because of the prolonged period before trial. He expressed concern that his client’s constitutional rights were not being considered.

“My client will be sitting in jail for an additional year,” Socci told the judge. “By my calculation, it’ll be well over 1000 days from the day of arrest to the day of trial in February 2020.”

Socci also said the expanded time would impact witness memories and may be of tactical advantage to the prosecution.

However, the prosecution refuted the complaint, saying a delay was acceptable in more serious cases, especially one involving first-degree murder.

D.C. Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson said the delay was mainly due to the court calendar and prior counsel requesting more time. She said there was no tactical advantage for the prosecution, since the prosecution’s witnesses would have the same memory disadvantages as the defense’s witnesses.

Furthermore, Judge Dayson said a delay was not a proper basis to separate the defendants.

According to court documents, surveillance footage captured two individuals exiting a black vehicle in a parking lot, with a third remaining in the driver’s seat. Heard approached the individuals, one of which appeared to be holding a firearm. The view of the shooting was obstructed on footage, however, smoke and a flash of light can be seen. A witness told police that Heard’s death was likely drug-related.

A status hearing is scheduled on March 27.

Prosecution Offers Plea Deal to Murder Defendant

On March 1, the prosecution offered a plea deal to a murder defendant suspected of killing a woman while under the influence of a narcotic.

Timothy Johnson, 33, is charged with second-degree murder for his alleged role in the murder of Kim Moore, 50, as a result of a traffic collision on the 900 Block of Eastern Avenue, NE, on Oct. 29, 2016.

If accepted, Johnson would plead guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter and felony assault, requiring him to serve five to seven years in prison.The plea offer will remain open for two weeks.

According to a press release, Johnson was driving his Chrysler 300 on Eastern Avenue at a high rate of speed. He was allegedly high on PCP, a hallucinatory drug. Johnson struck Moore as she was driving her white Honda Civic. Moore was taken to an area hospital, but succumbed to her injuries.

Johnson’s trial is scheduled to begin on Sept. 3.

Murder Defendant Pleads Not Guilty to Southwest Shooting

After the formal reading of a grand jury indicment, a defendant pleaded not guilty in connection to a 2018 double homicide.

Alonzo Lewis, 33, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed against a minor and two gun-related charges for his alleged role in the deaths of 40-year-old Jaquon Helm and 35-year-old Venius Badgett on the 50th block of Galveston Street, SW.

Following the pleading, Lewis’ defense attorney, John Fowler, requested that the prosecution hand over a list of all evidence that could be tested for DNA. Fowler also asked for a list of all witnesses in the case and their contact information.

A prosecutor said she would not provide witness information, but the rest of the evidence would be given to the defense in two weeks.

According to court documents, an 11-year-old witness said that Lewis’ romantic partner got into a physical altercation with Badgett before Helm pulled Badgett away. Another witness said Lewis shot both Badgett and Helm following the incident.

D.C. Witness previously reported that Helm and Badgett were married for six years and had five children, who were not harmed in the shooting.

A status hearing is scheduled on April 11.

Document: Police Arrest Suspect in First March Shooting

The Metropolitan Police Department announced March 1 that they arrested a man hours after a fatal shooting in Southeast Washington, DC.

According to a press release, 45-year-old Hilman Jordan was arrested and charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 64-year-old Jawaid Bhutto on the 2600 block of Wade Road, SE.

Following Jordan’s first appearance in court, the judge also added second-degree murder while armed and assault with a dangerous weapon charges. Jordan is being held without bond. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on March 12.

Both men appear to have been residents living in Southeast DC. According to the Washington Post, Bhutto was a professor.

According to D.C. Witness data, there have been 30 homicides in the District of Columbia as of March 1, nearly an 88 percent increase from this same time last year.

Judge Schedules Another Court Date in Northeast Homicide

A DC Superior Court judge set the next court date for a defendant accused of killing a 25-year-old man.

Mark Fletcher is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the death of Travis Barksdale on the 600 block of Evarts Street, NE in August of 2018.

During the March 1 hearing, Judge Danya Dayson set a felony status conference on May 2 after defense attorney Ieshaah Murphy requested additional time to prepare her case.

A prosecutor said that dates for a trial readiness hearing and a motions hearing would also be discussed.

Fletcher, 19, is scheduled to go to trial on Feb. 10, 2020.

D.C. Witness previously reported that a detective said the murder was a result of a neighborhood rivalry. Witnesses said that Fletcher, who is from the Saratoga neighborhood, was shot at by Barksdale, who is from the Edgewood neighborhood, in the weeks prior to Barksdale’s murder.

According to court documents, surveillance footage captured a red Mercedes with four passengers near the scene of the crime. A detective who worked in the Saratoga neighborhood identified Fletcher as one of the four individuals in the car based on his hairstyle and walk.

Judge Sentences Man in Vehicular Homicide

A D.C. Superior Court judge sentenced a murder defendant March 1 to serve four years behind bars before serving four years on supervised probation.

In November, Lavone Beckett pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter for driving under the influence of PCP and crashing his car into a pole, which ultimately led to the death of his passenger, Tanisha Ray. The crash occurred on the 600 block of Florida Avenue, NE in 2017.

During the hearing, Judge Ronna Beck sentenced Beckett to six years in prison, but suspended all but 48 months. She also sentenced him to four years of supervised probation following his release from prison.

“I feel guilty that I got to live and she didn’t,” Beckett, 41, said referring to Ray, who was a mother of four. “The lesson I’m learning is lifelong.”

According to the prosecution, “good samaritans” were able to get Beckett out of the car. However, the car was engulfed in flames and they were unable to get Ray out in time. The prosecution said Ray burned to death.

“PCP turns people into zombies, vampires,” the prosecution said. “People who are not in control of their actions.”

While defense attorney John Fowler didn’t refute Beckett’s responsibility, he did say that Beckett struggled with addiction dating back to his childhood, something that Beckett didn’t deal with until recently.

According to Fowler, Beckett grew up with addicts, including his mother. At the age of fourteen Beckett ended up taking care of himself and went on to finish high school and some college courses.

Fowler said Beckett worked in a high school as a security officer and that while he was on the job he intervened in a fight and was jumped. Apparently, Beckett went on pain killers for a back injury and that’s when his own addiction began.

“I apologize to the family,” Beckett said. “ I’ve wanted to apologize a 1000 times over.”

Judge Sets Murder Defendant’s Trial Date in 2020

A judge set a trial date for a man in connection to the murder of a 26 year-old man from Jacksonville, NC.

Kavonte Richardson, 25, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing Matthew Scott Rooker on the 600 block of 7th Street, NW, on May 23, 2018.

DC Superior Court Judge Ronna Beck set the first day of trial to begin on April 20, 2020. The date coincides with defense counsel’s availability. The extended date would also allow the prosecution to conduct DNA testing.

During the Feb. 28 hearing, the judge also scheduled a status hearing on July 7 for an Innocence Protection Act inquiry. According to the defense, Richardson was not the police’s only suspect. Police also suspected another man, who was also in the area at the time of the murder. Even though the other man was a suspect, he was not interrogated because a witness said the man seemed too slim to match the description of the killer.

Apparently, the witness said the defendant and Rooker, 26, were fighting over what was presumably Rooker’s backpack. After obtaining the backpack, the witness told police that the suspect fled the scene on foot, court documents said.

At the time of the arrest, the documents said, Richardson had a fresh laceration on his hand and an active warrant for his failure to appear in court for an unrelated case.

Judge Allows Murder Defendant to Claim Self Defense

A D.C. Superior Court judge ruled March 1 to allow a murder defendant’s attorneys to argue her actions were in self-defense.

Dianna Lalchan is charged with first-degree murder while armed and a gun-related offense for her alleged role in the death of her 36-year-old husband, Christopher Lalchan, in the Carrollsburg Condominiums on the 1200 block of 4th Street, SW in 2013.

Judge Ronna Beck said the defense had sufficient evidence in support of self-defense. Apparently, Lalchan, 33, called 911 after the murder and told the dispatcher, “he was coming at me so I shot him,” referring to her husband. The defense said her description makes the husband the “initial aggressor.”

The prosecution argued against the ruling saying, the evidence in the case doesn’t support a self-defense claim because the husband was shot in the back of the head.

Judge Beck said the defense could reference the husband’s prior “bad acts” during the trial.

According to court documents, Lalchan told the police that she was a victim of domestic abuse. However, she also told police that her husband did not threaten or abuse her the night he was killed.

Judge Beck also denied the prosecution’s motion to prevent two of the defense’s experts from testifying. According to the prosecution, the defense notified the court about the experts late, nearly two weeks before the trial was scheduled to begin.

However, due to the late filing, Judge Beck granted the prosecution additional time to prepare for the case by pushing the trial back two days. The trial, which was scheduled to begin on March 4, is now scheduled to begin on March 6.

Judge Dismisses Murder Defendant’s Case

On Feb. 28, a judge dismissed a murder defendant’s case without prejudice.

Curtis Edwards was charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the death of 26-year-old James Tyrone Eaton on the 300 block of Rhode Island Avenue, NE in 2018.

The prosecutor told the judge that she was seeking to withdraw the case without prejudice. The prosecution didn’t elaborate on why they were seeking to withdraw.

Edwards, 38, was previously released under the High Intensity Supervision Program, in which he was on 24-hour home confinement and monitored through a GPS monitoring device. Edwards was also required to report for drug testing.

According to court documents, Eaton was shot in the back of the head while having a conversation with multiple other men. Apparently, there is surveillance footage that showed a man walking away from the scene. Police said a witness identified Edwards as the man in the footage.

Judge Todd E. Edelman dismissed the case without objection from the defense.

Trial Continues For 2017 Homicide in Northeast DC

During trial on Feb. 28, a witness testified that he had one of two keys to a murder victim’s apartment.

El Hadji Alpha Madiou Toure is charged with first-degree murder while armed and first-degree sexual abuse, among other offenses, for his alleged role in the death of 34-year-old Corrina Mehiel on the 600 block of 14th Street, NE in 2017. According to court documents, Mehiel was stabbed multiple times in her apartment and her wounds were consistent with torture.

A witness who knew Mehiel testified that he arranged for Mehiel to stay in his apartment after he moved out because he could not get out of the lease agreement.

The witness said he still had a key to the apartment at the time of Mehiel’s death. The witness also said there were no openings in the courtyard of the apartment that would allow a person to enter the residence from the back.

Another witness, who was a close friend of Mehiel, said she spoke with Mehiel and her boyfriend weeks before the murder and that “things seemed fine” between them.

Surveillance video and bank records indicate that a man, who was driving a blue Toyota Prius, attempted to withdraw money from Mehiel’s bank account.

According to court documents, Mehiel’s vehicle, a blue Prius, was missing from her residence after her murder. Prosecutors said Toure stole the vehicle shortly after her death. A murder weapon was never found.

The trial is scheduled to continue on March 4.

Judge Finds Substantial Probability in January Homicide

During a preliminary hearing Feb. 28, a judge found substantial probability that a defendant was involved in the fatal shooting of a 21-year-old in January.

Elhadji Babacar Ndiaye is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the death of 21-year-old Travis Deyvon Ruth on the 2700 block of Jasper Street, NE on Jan. 18. According to court documents, Ruth was shot nine times. The majority of his wounds were back to front, however, the gunshot wounds to Ruth’s leg was front to back.

D.C. Superior Court Judge Todd E. Edelman said, based on a witness’s testimony, he believed Ndiaye is a danger to the community. Ndiaye, 19, is being held without bond.

During the hearing, the prosecution called a detective to the stand who told the court about interviews he conducted with multiple witnesses. The witnesses placed Ndiaye at the scene of the crime. According to the detective, a witness said Ruth was sitting in the front seat of a green Honda Accord when Ndiaye pulled out a gun, opened the back door and shot him.

The detective said another witness received threatening phone calls regarding the shooting. The detective said he did not know if Ndiaye made the calls.

The prosecutor said Ndiaye is responsible for Ruth’s death, fleeing the crime scene, threatening a witness and destroying evidence.

A green Honda Accord, which police determined was the same car from the shooting, was found burned a week after the murder.

Ndiaye’s defense attorney, Blase Kearney, said there is a lack of forensic evidence in the case. Kearney also said the witnesses the detective spoke to aren’t credible. Apparently, the witnesses were initially uncooperative and their stories weren’t consistent with Ruth’s wounds.

But, Judge Edelman said that despite the inconsistencies in the witnesses’ stories, they were somewhat consistent with each other.

A felony status conference is scheduled on April 5.

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