Release Granted to Murder Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge put a defendant, who was previously held for 21 months without bond, under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP).

Sean Smith, charged with second-degree murder while armed, allegedly shot Matthew Walker on the 900 block of Eastern Avenue, NE in 2016. According to court documents, witnesses said Smith, 36, and Walker, 26, had a verbal altercation at a party. A gun, recovered at the time of arrest, contained Smith and Walker’s DNA.

Smith pleaded not guilty. Defense counsel told Judge Judith Bartnoff during a June 8 hearing that Walker pulled a gun on Smith and ultimately their client acted in self-defense.

The prosecution offered a plea deal, which would remove all of Smith’s charges except for unlawful possession of a firearm. The defense said the prosecution’s plea deal is still being considered.

Smith is scheduled for a status hearing on June 19.

Judge Postpones Hearing in Murder Case

DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson postponed a murder defendant’s felony status conference from June 14 to June 19. The hearing was delayed to give attorneys more time to develop their cases.

Ashton Briscoe, 23, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Kerrice Lewis, 23, on the 800 block of Adrian Street, SE. The incident occurred on Dec. 28, 2017.

Requests to delay the case have occurred before. A preliminary hearing scheduled on March 9 was delayed to March 30 to give counsel more time to prepare their arguments.

Police Release Name of Man Killed in Officer-Involved Shooting

During a press conference June 13, Metropolitan Police Department Chief of Police Peter Newsham discussed the details of a police-involved shooting that left one man dead.

According to Newsham, on June 12 two uniformed patrol officers entered an alley and approached a group of individuals on the 3700 block of First Street, SE. Upon seeing the officers, the individuals fled and the officers pursued them.

During the chase one of the individuals, Marqueese Alston, opened fire. Newsham said the officers opened fire in an effort to “save their lives.” Alston was pronounced dead on the scene.

The police chief said Alston, 22, used an illegal semi-automatic gun. Apparently, Alston also had an extended magazine with ammunition. Furthermore, Newsham said Alston was wearing a court-ordered Global Positioning System (GPS), which tracked his movement. Alston wore the GPS device because it was part of his 2016 sentence for a carjacking.

When asked about feelings of mistrust for the police in the community, Newsham said the “overwhelming majority” of the community is “very trusting” of the police. Even so, the department works to gain trust by focusing on accuracy and transparency.

The officers involved wore body cameras that were turned on. After reviewing the cameras, the Mayor’s office will decide if the video will be released to the public.

The two officers involved in the shooting were placed on administrative leave while the investigation continues, according to a press release.

Counsel Continue to Debate Murder Defendant’s Statements to Police

Counsel continued to debate the validity of a murder defendant’s statements while he was on morphine.

From June 11-12, attorneys argued about whether statements made by Willie Glover could be used despite the fact that Glover, 40, was recovering from surgery and on morphine when he made them. Counsel began arguing about the statements when defense filed a motion to suppress them on May 18.

Glover, 66-year-old Charles McRae and 38-year-old Joseph Barbour are charged with first-degree murder for allegedly stabbing 50-year-old Lenard Wills at an apartment complex on the 700 block of 24th Street, NE on the evening of Dec. 21, 2015.

According to court documents, Glover checked himself into the Prince George’s County Hospital Center in Cheverly, Md. a few hours later. He told officers from the Prince George’s Police Department (PGPD) that an unknown male mugged and stabbed him in Seat Pleasant, Md.

During a motion hearing, counsel and the judge questioned several witnesses as to whether Glover could give statements to police while recovering from surgery. Witnesses included a nurse, detectives from PGPD and the Metropolitan Police Department; and a doctor.

A MPD detective testified that a nurse told him Glover was “stable… conscious and alert.” He said Glover agreed to an interview.

The prosecution said Glover eventually changed his story, admitting he was actually stabbed on the 700 block of 24th Street, NE. The prosecution also said medical records indicated Glover was alert.

“He was able to give coherent chronologies,” a prosecutor said. “He is familiar with the system. He’s familiar with being interviewed.”

To show the impact morphine had on his client, defense attorney Thomas Heslep relied on testimony from an emergency physician from Bethesda, Md.

“Morphine affects people differently…side effects include nausea, headache, drowsiness…some people become confused…it runs the gamut,” the physician said.

During a hearing on May 18, the defense said Glover’s state of mind during the interview made his statement about the homicide involuntary.

D.C. Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe is expected to present an opinion on the matter before the trial begins. Jury selection for the case is scheduled for June 14.

Document: Homicide on Eastern Avenue NE

The Metropolitan Police Department is currently investigating a fatal stabbing that occurred on the 400 block of Eastern Avenue, NE.

On June 8, the police found Jamaal Nathaniel Chase, 41, in a residence unconscious. Chase died at a local hospital. A second victim sustained non-life threatening injuries.

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

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.

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