Man Rejects Murder Plea

On July 9, a man rejected a plea offer that would have downgraded his murder charges.

Gregory Williams is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing Andrew Alphonso Cook III on the 1700 Block of North Capitol Street, NE in 2017.

According to court documents, a witness told the police that they saw Cook and Williams, 43, arguing and fighting the night of the murder. Another witness said they saw Cook collapse on the street behind a parked car.

The prosecution offered Williams’ a plea deal that would have reduced his charge to voluntary manslaughter. Per the voluntary sentencing guidelines, Williams would have faced 10.5 – 18 years in prison.

During a felony status conference, the defense rejected the plea. The prosecution then notified the court that she would have a formal list of indictments by Sept. 1.

Williams is scheduled for another felony status conference on Aug. 31.

Judge Grants Appeal Trial Date for 2012 Murder

During a hearing on July 6, a DC Superior Court Judge granted an appeal trial date for a man who was convicted of voluntary manslaughter while armed.

In 2013, a jury found former Marine Michael Poth guilty of fatally stabbing 23-year-old Philip Bushong, who was also a marine, on the 700 block of 8th Street, SE in 2012. DC Police say Poth stabbed Bushong to death after they had an argument, during which Poth said a homophobic slur.

Poth was sentenced to 11 years in prison. However, he was granted a new trial after appealing his case because of juror misconduct. Apparently, a juror failed to notify the court that he was a registered sex-offender, according to the Washington Post.

Judge Iscoe set the new trial date for July 23.

Defense Says Real Assailant Not on Trial

A defense attorney in a three co-defendant murder trial said another man was arrested carrying a knife on the same night and in the same neighborhood as a fatal stabbing.

The attorney said the man was carrying a kitchen knife in his waistband on the night Lenard Wills was killed in 2015. According to prosecutors, Wills, 50, was stabbed in a crowded apartment during an attempted robbery on the 700 block of 24th Street, NE. Joseph Barbour, Willie Glover and Charles McRae are charged with first-degree murder while armed for his death.

When asked why he never examined the kitchen knife, a detective said the name of the man carrying it never came up in his investigation. A medical examiner who testified earlier in the trial said it was possible that Wills was stabbed with a kitchen knife.

A defense attorney for Barbour also highlighted body camera footage that showed a conversation with a witness, who later identified Barbour as one of the attackers, saying the assailant came from “upstairs,” not necessarily from the apartment where the stabbing occurred. During his testimony, the witness said he recognized Barbour from his clothes and mannerisms.

The trial is scheduled to resume on July 6.

Joyner is Not Guilty of 2014 Murder

After a previous mistrial and being held in jail for more than three years, a man was found not guilty of murder on June 28.

Andre Joyner was charged with second-degree murder while armed for the stabbing death of 31-year-old Jamie Washington on the 700 block of 18th Street, NE in 2014. Joyner, 28, was also charged with tampering with physical evidence for getting rid of his clothes from the night of Washington’s murder.

After four days of deliberation, a jury unanimously agreed that Joyner was not guilty of second-degree murder while armed for Washington’s death. However, they did find Joyner guilty of tampering with evidence.

According to the voluntary sentencing guidelines, Joyner could face a maximum of two years in prison for tampering with evidence.

Throughout the two week trial, multiple witnesses, including Washington’s mother and Joyner’s ex-girlfriend, testified about the events leading up to the murder.

During closing statements, the prosecution attempted to convince the jury of Joyner’s guilt by alluding to the testimony of one of their cooperating witnesses. According to the cooperating witness, who was housed in the same jail unit as Joyner, the defendant confessed to Washington’s murder.

Subsequently, Joyner’s attorney, Kevin Mosley, attempted to place doubt in the minds of the jury by shifting the blame to the defendant’s ex-girlfriend, who testified as part of a plea agreement with the government. She also faces charges related to Washington’s murder.

Mosley told the jury that the girlfriend was the “aggressor” based on her intoxicated state and because she was motivated by her stolen laptop, who she believed Washington stole.

The prosecution cautioned the jury not to be “blinded” by the “scorned woman” stereotype that Mosley was implying.

Joyner is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 6.

Judge Sets Trial Date for 2016 Murder

On July 5, months after the original trial date was set, a DC Superior Court Judge scheduled a new trial date for a 2016 murder.

Paul Swann, 27, and his co-defendant, Traveous Lamont Brown, are charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Adam Edwin Barker on the 2000 block of Langston Place, SE in 2016.

According to court documents, Barker suffered a single gunshot wound to the back. Apparently, the bullet traveled to Barker’s head and caused significant brain damage.

The murder allegedly happened after Barker, 21, testified against the man charged with his uncle’s murder.

Brown, 28, pled guilty as part of a plea bargain on June 14 and is awaiting sentencing, He is scheduled for a status hearing on July 27.

Swann and Brown’s cases were subsequently severed.

Swann’s was initially scheduled to go to trial on Feb. 28 with Brown as his co-defendant, but it was postponed because the defense wanted to conduct additional DNA testing. Since then, the trial has been rescheduled four times.

During the hearing, Judge Ronna L. Beck set a new trial date for July 11.

Judge Rules Murder Defendant Competent

During a status hearing July 5, a DC Superior Court Judge ruled a murder defendant competent to stand trial.

John James is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Ernest Massenberg-Bey Jr. on the 1100 block of Eaton Road, SE in 2015. An unnamed individual was also injured during the shooting. They were admitted to an area hospital in critical condition.

According to court documents, Massenberg-Bey, 21, identified James as the shooter before succumbing to his injuries. The unnamed individual also identified the defendant.

On July 5, Judge Milton Lee found Massenberg-Bey competent after receiving a report from the Bureau of Legal Services that determined James was competent to stand trial.

James is scheduled to go to trial on Nov. 13. He is also scheduled for a status hearing on Aug. 28.

Court Determines Trial Date For Murder Defendant

The judge and counsel determined the trial date for a murder defendant.

Carmelita Henderson is charged with first-degree murder while armed for the shooting death of Levi Kinte Davis on the 4200 block of East Capitol Street, NE in 2015. Henderson, 49, was arrested in 2016.

DC Superior Court Judge Judith Bartnoff scheduled Henderson’s trial for April 29, 2019.

Judge Bartnoff said she expects the prosecution to turn over all evidence to defense counsel by the trial readiness hearing which is scheduled for March 29, 2019.

Henderson’s past defense attorney Michael S. Morsier previously advocated for her release. The judge denied release due to Henderson’s unemployment status.

Henderson is also scheduled for another status hearing on Sept. 14.

Was the Murder Victim Conscious After the Attack?

On July 3, a medical examiner said her analysis of the victim’s body was consistent with witness testimony.

Lenard Wills, 50, was beaten and stabbed to death in an apartment on the 700 block of 24th Street, NE in 2015. Joseph Barbour, Willie Glover and Charles McRae are charged with first-degree murder while armed for Wills’ death.

According to the medical examiner, lacerations found on Wills’ face and head were likely caused by a small or medium-sized object, which could have been a gun.

The examiner also said someone with wounds as severe as Wills’ might have been able to walk around and speak for a period of time after being stabbed. According to an eyewitness, Wills was moving shortly after the attack.

Another witness, whose expertise was in forensic anthropology, said she could not tell from Wills’ stab wounds whether a bloody knife recovered from a trash can near the apartment was the murder weapon.

The witness said,”It’s very possible a standard kitchen knife was used.”

The trial is scheduled to resume on July 5.

Document: Homicide on 4400 Block of E Street, SE

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the murder of a Southeast, DC man.

On July 3, MPD responded to a reported shooting on the 4400 Block of E Street, SE, where they found Tyron Anthony Johnson unresponsive and suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Johnson, 24, was brought to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Police are offering a reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

Judge Finds Probable Cause For Stabbing Suspect

A man charged with murder was denied release after a DC Magistrate Judge found probable cause for the crime on June 29.

Deon Crowell is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing Joni Rockingham on the 300 block of 34th Street, NE in 2017. Rockingham, 53, was found dead with 73 stab wounds across her upper body.

Crowell, 49, apparently had a sexual relationship with Rockingham.

Judge Errol Arthur found probable cause based on Crowell’s actions leading up to the murder. Apparently, Crowell called Rockingham 11 times before she was reported dead. He also called her mother to ask if she was home.

Crowell’s defense lawyer Ieshaah Murphy led his defense with the fact that there were no eyewitnesses nor video footage that captured Rockingham’s death. Murphy also said the Metropolitan Police Department didn’t know when Rockingham, 53, was killed.

Murphy told Judge Arthur that there were five individuals who allegedly had motive to kill Rockingham. Murphy said one of these individuals, identified as “Sean” in court documents, is known for kidnapping and killing people. Sean was not interviewed as a witness by the police.

However, the prosecution said Crowell’s initial interview with police left too many inconsistencies.

According to the prosecution, Crowell, 49, lied about having sexual relations with Rockingham. Crowell initially said they had intercourse, but later retracted that statement. The prosecution told Judge Arthur that they plan to administer DNA testing on a bloodied linen sheet, which police found at the crime scene.

Crowell is being held without bond. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on July 27.

Police are Searching for Two Persons of Interest in June Murder

The Metropolitan Police Department is searching for two persons of interest in the murder of a Southeast DC man.

On June 28, police found Johnathan Grady fatally stabbed on the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. Grady, 29, was taken to a nearby hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

According to the Washington Post, Grady’s death was the result of a dispute with an unidentified man.

On July 2, MPD released area surveillance footage of two unidentified suspects fleeing the area. The video shows two males crossing several streets. One suspect is seen wearing a grey shirt and basketball shorts and the other suspect is wearing a grey shirt and black pants.

The police are offering a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone that provides information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

Document: Homicide on 2nd Street, NW

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the fatal shooting of 34-year-old William Mayo.

On July 2, police found Mayo suffering from gunshot wounds on the 400 block of 2nd Street, NW. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The police are offering a reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

Document: Homicide on 23rd Street, SE

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on the 1800 block of 23rd Street, SE.

On July 1, police found 60-year-old Stephen Cade unconscious in a residence. Cade was pronounced dead on the scene.

The police are offering a reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

Murder Defendant Rejects Plea Offer

Defense counsel, in a homicide case, rejected a plea offer from the prosecution and asked the judge to set a trial date.

Tavon Davis is charged with second-degree murder for allegedly assaulting Michael Vest on the 1300 block of Trinidad Avenue, NE in 2017. According to court documents, officers found Vest, 29, unresponsive and suffering from blunt force trauma. One witness said Vest and Davis, 22, got into a verbal argument earlier in the week.

During an arraignment on June 29, counsel agreed to schedule the trial date for May 13, 2019. According to the prosecution, they plan to have six or seven witness. The defense said they plan to have at most one witness.

Davis is scheduled for a status hearing on Sept. 5.

Murder Defendant Pleads Guilty, Again

During a hearing June 29, the attorneys of a man charged with first-degree murder said the defendant wished to plead guilty and proceed with sentencing.

David Bright allegedly shot two housemates, Clifton Francis, 51, and David Watkins Jr., 45, on the 500 block of 58th Street, NE in 2016.

Bright, 31, pled guilty on Feb. 21 for two counts of voluntary manslaughter while armed. However, he withdrew his guilty plea on June 8 in a letter addressed to DC Superior Judge Ronna Beck.

On May 18, Bright’s mother told D.C. Witness that Bright was initially coerced into pleading guilty.

Bright is scheduled for sentencing on July 13.