Defense Shifts Blame to Defendant’s Ex-Girlfriend

During opening statements in a 2014 murder trial, the defense said their client was innocent and that the real killer was one of the prosecution’s witnesses.

Andre Joyner is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing Jamie Washington on the 700 block of 18th Street, NE in 2014. Joyner, 27, is also charged with allegedly destroying the clothes he was wearing on the night of the murder.

According to the prosecution’s theory, the fatal stabbing stemmed from a hunt for a stolen laptop. Apparently, Joyner’s girlfriend at the time returned home from work and found her laptop missing. After talking with her cousin, Joyner’s girlfriend suspected Washington, who was in her apartment earlier that day, took her laptop.

Joyner and his girlfriend then searched for Washington and eventually found him in an alleyway. The prosecution says Joyner stabbed Washington, 31, in the alleyway with a kitchen knife.

In the defense’s opening statements, Kevin Mosley refuted the prosecution’s theory and said they lacked evidence. Mosley said that neither Joyner nor Washington’s DNA was on the murder weapon.

Furthermore, Mosley pointed out that Joyner’s girlfriend had been drinking throughout the day. Mosley said the girlfriend, fueled by anger from her stolen laptop along with her level of intoxication “snapped” and killed Washington.

Joyner’s girlfriend pled guilty to being an accessory to Washington’s murder. As part of a plea agreement, she agreed to testify.

The trial is scheduled to continue on June 14.

Judge Rules to Separate Homicide Evidence Before Trial

Less than a day before the start of a 2014 murder trial, a judge ruled to separate evidence used to create a timeline relating to the stabbing death of Jamie Washington.

Andre Joyner, 27, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing Washington, 31, on the 700 block of 18th Street, NE in 2014.

To create the timeline, the prosecution used surveillance footage from a nearby liquor store and telephone records from a woman who was near the crime scene during the time of the murder.

Kevin Mosley, Joyner’s defense attorney, argued that the “manufactured” timeline was “misleading.” Mosley said the video timestamp doesn’t necessarily align with the timestamp on the phone records.

DC Superior Court Judge Judith Bartnoff said she was concerned the discrepancy between the timestamps from the video and phone records could lead to an inaccurate depiction of the order of events. She ruled that the prosecution could create a timeline based on the telephone records. Judge Bartnoff said the prosecution could create another timeline using the surveillance footage but the two could not be introduced into evidence together.

Judge Bartnoff said she would instruct the jury about the potential time discrepancy between the video and the phone records.

Joyner is scheduled to stand trial June 13.

Murder Case Continues for Counsel to Review Evidence

A homicide hearing is continued to allow the prosecution to review new pieces of evidence.

Jose Luzunaris appeared in court June 12 for a felony status conference, where counsel exchanged evidence and information about the death of Gregory Monroe.

Luzunaris, 53, is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly stabbing 56-year-old Monroe on Feb 3, 2018, at the Judiciary House Apartments on the 400 block of H Street, NW. According to court documents, the victim suffered from stab wounds to the side of his neck and right ear.

During the hearing, defense counsel said they wanted to bring in new evidence. However, the prosecution needs to review it. To give the prosecution additional time to review the evidence, the defense requested the hearing continue after 60 days.

DC Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe scheduled the hearing to continue on Aug 24.

Defense Requests Continuance to Analyze DNA

A defense attorney for a convicted murder said he wanted to conduct further DNA testing to exonerate his client.

In 2012, a jury found Keith Littlepage guilty of stabbing Selina Knight on the 3000 block of Nelson Pl., NE. Littlepage, 56, received a sentence of 50 years in prison. Before his appeal, Littlepage served time at the United States Penitentiary in McCreary, Kent. He is currently being held at the D.C. Jail. Littlepage is scheduled for release on Nov. 2, 2054. After his prison sentence, he is also required to serve five years on supervised release.

Keith Littlepage received 50 years for killing Selina Knight (pictured) in 2011.

Homicide Watch reported that the murder was committed out of retribution after the decedent tried to end their relationship.

Littlepage’s defense attorney,Doresey Jones, said he is waiting on DNA analysis from the crime scene. He said partial results were inconclusive, so additional tests are needed. Jones said he expects the testing would be completed by July 11.

DC Superior Court Judge Thomas Motley told the defense to explain how the results of the testing would affect a retrial.

A status hearing is scheduled on Sept. 25.

Document: Officer-Involed Shooting on 1st Street SE

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department are investigating an officer-involved shooting on the 3700 block of First Street, SE.

According to the police, uniformed patrol officers entered an alley on June 12 where a group of individuals were congregated. Upon seeing the officers, the individuals ran and the officers gave chase. During the chase, one individual pulled a gun and began shooting. Officers returned fire.

The individual, whose identity has not been released, died on the scene. A firearm was recovered from the decedent.

Police recovered a gun from the decedent on the scene of an officer-involved shooting.

The officers involved body-worn cameras were turned on and are currently being reviewed. They have been placed on administrative leave while the investigation continues, according to a press release.

Prosecution Files Motion for Murder Defendant’s DNA

The prosecution in a homicide case filed a motion June 12 requesting that a DC Superior Court judge order the defendant to submit a DNA swab for testing.

Matthew Moore pled not guilty to allegedly shooting Ronnell Reaves on the 600 block of 14th Place, NE in 2017. According to court documents, Reaves, 22, was killed on the scene, while another person sustained critical injuries but survived.

Judge Danya Dayson said she would decide on a date for defense counsel to respond to the prosecution’s request for DNA testing.

Moore, 33, initially claimed that he shot the men in self-defense after they attempted to coerce him into robbing a restaurant. But, surveillance footage of the incident contradicts Moore’s version of the events. The Metropolitan Police Department did not collect Moore’s DNA on the scene.

Another status hearing is scheduled for June 26 because Moore’s defense attorney is in trial for an unrelated case.

Is Juan Kibler Competent to Stand Trial?

On June 12, a DC Superior Court judge ordered a murder defendant to undergo a full competency evaluation.

The evaluation was ordered after results from Juan Kibler’s competency screening were given to Judge Ronna L. Beck. The screening was approved June 5 to decipher if Kibler was mentally capable to stand trial.

Kibler, 27, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 40 year-old Joseph Harris. The incident took place on the 2300 block of Green Street, SE on May 7. Harris died at a local hospital on May 8.

Beck denied the defense’s request for Kibler to be released under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP). HISP supervises defendants who are determined to be a safety or appearance risk.

Kibler’s crime “is too great to be released regardless of mental competency,” Beck said.

Kibler is scheduled for preliminary and mental observation hearings on July 13.

Curfew Lifted for Second-Degree Murder Suspect

During a status hearing June 11, the presiding judge in a homicide case involving a man accused of second-degree murder ruled in favor of removing his curfew, which has been in place for the past three years.

Defense attorney Dominique Winters argued that Brian Jackson was “an exemplary defendant” who has been in accordance with the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP). Jackson, 29, has been compliant with the court’s orders and continues to “attend his meetings,” she said.

Jackson told DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson that he was a commercial driver with a Class B license but due to his inability to attend night classes he lost his job.

Jackson is charged with allegedly stabbing Joshua Steele, 23, on the 600 block of Alabama Avenue, SE in 2015 .

Judge Dayson agreed to lift Jackson’s curfew but left him on the Global Positioning System (GPS), which tracks his movement.

Jackson is scheduled for a status hearing on Aug. 16.

Judge Rules on Evidence Distribution in 2013 Homicide Case

A presiding judge in a 2013 homicide case gave defense counsel extra time to review evidence before handing it over to expert witnesses for review.

The defendant, Stefon Kirkpatrick, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing his girlfriend, Julisa Washington, in 2013. According to court documents, Washington, 22, was found face down in a pool of blood in an alleyway on the 400 block of Chesapeake Street, SE. Apparently, the cause of death was a stab wound to the neck.

Defense counsel argued that if the prosecution was allowed to distribute the case’s evidence to all parties at the same time, the defense’s expert witness at Saint Elizabeths Hospital, DC’s psychiatric hospital, could be flipped. According to court records, Kirkpatrick told police, on the scene of the crime, that he committed the murder.

DC Superior Court Judge Ronna L. Beck ordered the prosecution to give the evidence to defense counsel by June 15. Beck granted the defense two weeks to review the evidence, after which counsel would be required to disclose all evidence to expert witnesses.

Kirkpatrick is scheduled for a status hearing on June 28.

Prosecution Offers Plea Deal to Dismiss Murder Charge

In light of recent DNA evidence, the prosecution in a 2016 homicide case, offered the defendant a plea deal June 8. The plea deal would dismiss all but one of the defendant’s charges.

The defendant, Sean Smith, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Matthew Walker. Smith, 38, also faces unlawful possession with a prior felony and carrying a pistol without a license charges.

According to court documents, Smith and Walker, 26, attended a party on the 900 block of Eastern Ave., NE in August 2016. Witnesses said the two men started arguing. Shortly after the argument, witnesses said they heard gunshots. Walker suffered from multiple gunshots to the upper body, including his heart and lungs.

Defense counsel said Walker pulled a gun on Smith and ultimately their client acted in self-defense. The prosecution said DNA testing found both Smith and Walkers’ DNA on the gun.

As a result, the prosecution offered a plea deal that would keep the unlawful possession charge and dismiss the murder and licensing charges. The plea deal will be available until Smith’s next hearing.

Based on the downgraded charges, the defense motioned to review Smith’s terms of release. While the defense was in favor of a full release, the prosecution argued for Smith to remain in prison.

In 2005, Smith went “on the run” for a month with relation to prior charges that were not related to the homicide. The prosecution said he could be a potential flight risk.

DC Superior Court Judge Judith Bartnoff said that while she acknowledges the prosecution’s argument, she believes “the poster of the case is different now that the murder charge is gone.”

Judge Bartnoff said she is in favor of release with some level of supervision. She said she would make a ruling based on Smith’s pre-trial screening.

Smith is scheduled for a status hearing on June 13, where his release is expected to be discussed.

New Defense Counsel Ready to Continue Shooting Case

New defense counsel in a 2017 homicide case told the court he was ready to begin arguments on June 8.

Howard Mceachern, who was appointed on May 22, said he was “up to speed” on the case and ready to continue. Mceachern is defending Khalil Davis, who is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Omar Rogers.

According to court documents, Rogers, 25, was in his car in the parking lot of Uniontown Bar and Grill, located on the 2200 block of Martin Luther King Jr Avenue, SE, when a black car pulled up next to him and opened fire.

Davis, 23, along with his co-defendant, Micheal Jones, 21, are scheduled for a felony status conference on July 19. Kevin McCants is Jones’ defense counsel.

Defendants in Matthew Shlonsky Homicide Plead Guilty

Marcus King, Kevin Proctor and Andre Dudley pled guilty June 8 to the 2015 shooting death of Matthew Shlonsky.

The three men recanted their previous not guilty plea and pled guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter while armed and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon. According to court documents, Shlonsky, 23, was an unintended target who was caught in a crossfire after exiting a taxi.

Dudley, 22, also pled guilty to one count of attempted assault with a deadly weapon. According to news reports, Dudley, who also pled guilty to charges in an unrelated prison stabbing, could get 20 years and four months in prison.

King, 22, and Proctor, 28, who are apparent members of a DC gang called the Ninth Street Crew, were allegedly arguing with Dudley before the gunfight.

King agreed to a prison term of 15 to 20 years and Proctor agreed to a prison term of 12 to 14 years, local news station WTOP reported.

DC Superior Court Judge Juliet McKenna accepted the defendants’ pleas. Their sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 13.

Joyner Receives 16 Years for 2016 Murder

On June 8, a DC Superior Court judge sentenced a man, who pled guilty to a fatal shooting, to 16 years in prison.

Thomas Joyner pled guilty to second-degree murder on Sept. 16, 2016, for fatally shooting Joe Cook. As part of Joyner’s sentence, the 23-year-old is required to serve an additional five years on supervised release.

By pleading guilty to the murder, several other charges, including assault with a dangerous weapon and two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, were dismissed.

Joyner shot Cook, 35, on the 2500 block of Elvans Road, SE. During a May 25 hearing, Joyner said he was under the influence of PCP, an hallucinatory drug also known as angel dust, when he pulled the trigger.

Even though Joyner was sentenced on May 25, his sentence was not imposed because Joyner needed to resolve a civil matter in Maryland.

Learn more about the case here.

Document: Traffic Fatality on H Street NE

The Metropolitan Police Department arrested June 8 Daryl Grant Alexander for a traffic fatality that occurred on the 1100 block of H Street, NE.

According to the police, Alexander, 47, was driving under the influence when he struck a 2018 Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX motorcycle. The driver of the motorcycle, 53 year-old Oren Dorell, was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Alexander is charged with second-degree murder, driving under the influence and leaving after colliding.

Defense Attorneys Split on Decision to Push Trial Date

In a status hearing June 6, defense attorneys for co-defendants in a homicide case disagreed on whether to keep the current trial date or to delay the trial by more than a year.

Antoine Byrd and Devonte Johnson are charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing Robinson Pal inside Barcode, a nightclub located on the 1100 block of 17th Street, NW, on January 31, 2016. Pal died on Feb. 1, 2016.

Johnson’s attorney, Brian McDaniel, said he would like to continue with the current July 30 trial date, while Bryd’s attorney, Brandi Harden, said she would like to delay the trial to conduct further DNA testing.

Harden said she received DNA test results from the prosecution that led her to believe that additional testing was needed. According to Harden, she doesn’t know how long the testing would take or what her defense theory would be when it is done.

“We’re talking about a whole new defense theory,” Harden said. “I don’t think it’s fair to ask me to do it in 45 days, nor can I.”

Harden emphasized that the court gave the prosecution six months for DNA testing.

According to the prosecution, their DNA analysis lasted as long as it did because the results from the knife’s handle were a mixture of DNA from five individuals. Test results placed Byrd’s DNA on the knife handle, and results for the other four individuals were inconclusive, the prosecution said.

DC Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe said he wouldn’t issue a ruling, but would keep the current trial date for the moment. If the trial is delayed, it would likely have to wait until October 2019.

A status hearing is scheduled for June 20.

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