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Documents: Malik Hewitt arrest warrant

Malik Hewitt was arrested and charged with the alleged murder of Christopher Heard.

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Daron Wint’s IPA hearing moved to October





Daron Wint, 34, charged with the alleged murder of four people, had his Innocence Protection Act hearing moved to Oct. 27, after both sides agreed they weren’t ready to have the hearing Friday, as originally planned.

Wint’s DNA was discovered at the crime scene where Savvas and Amy Savopoulos along with their son and housekeeper were killed on May 14, 2015.

At the IPA hearing, DNA is presented and the defendant has the right to have the evidence be retested. The reason for rescheduling the hearing was due to the defense wanting several items to be tested with their own experts.

Judge Lopez allowed for the hearing to be moved.

 

 

 

Prosecution and defense spar over what to include in murder trial

In a hearing for Jonathan Taylor, charged with the murder of Dexter Motley, the prosecution and defense argued over which pieces of evidence should be allowed to be submitted to the court.  

On Monday, the prosecution argued statements made by Taylor in a 2015 interview should be used to support his role in the alleged murder. However, the defense argued that Taylor was not read his Miranda Rights, and thus, his statements cannot be used in trial.

As the hearing proceeded, the detective who conducted this interview gave his testimony.

In October of 2015, Detective Joshua Branson interviewed Taylor. He had been held in custody for an unspecified pre-existing case. During this interview, Branson expressed to the defendant, who sat in shackles, that he had “the same freedoms here that you have on the street.” This was meant to imply that Taylor was not being arrested and could leave at any point, and did so roughly 12 minutes in, Branson said.

After some deliberation, the judge permitted the use of Taylor’s interview, concluding the reading of Miranda Rights was not necessary since Taylor was not yet being charged or arrested.

Taylor and the defense also argued to suppress certain statements about Taylor’s homelessness saying that it didn’t matter to the case at hand. The prosecution argued that Taylor’s homelessness was relevant because Taylor relied on multiple women to take care of him by providing him with food and shelter and this was how he made a living. Judge Lopez decided that this could be used as evidence because that was Taylor’s livelihood.

Four testimonies were previously given by different witnesses, all of which the defense asked to be prohibited in trial. The judge and prosecution found issue with this request since all four testimonies commented on Taylor’s possession of and access to a revolver, the same type of gun identified as the murder weapon.

As the hearing neared its end, the prosecution argued that Taylor’s motive could be tied to his friendship with a certain group of men. Once again, the issue of prejudice came to light and the concern that Taylor would be affiliated with a gang. The argument was based on the testimony that this group of men had been threatened by the victim, Motley, and may have caused Taylor to join them in seeking revenge. After some deliberation, the judge decided that the friendship was relevant when looking at Taylor’s motive.

Over the next week, the prosecution and defense are expected to bring in witnesses and decide on a jury.

 

Death of Awlachew Ayele ruled a homicide


The Medical Examiner ruled on Wednesday that the cause of death for a 66-year-old man found after a fire was extinguished is homicide.

Awlachew Ayele was found by emergency workers responding to a report of a fire in the 1100 block of Queen St., NE. on Jan. 26.

An autopsy revealed Ayele died from smoke and soot inhalation, and other “significant” facts in his death included blunt-force injuries.

Police have not yet released any suspect information.

 

 

Police looking for two people of interest related to Algernon Jones murder


Police are looking for two people and vehicles of interest related to the murder of 32-year-old Algernon Harvey Jones.

Jones was killed by multiple gunshot wounds in the 100 block of Q St., NW last month.

After conducting a further investigation D.C. Police learned that seven additional people were also shot and sustained non-life threatening injuries.

Both people of interest are described as black males wearing dark clothing. They were last seen in the video below fleeing the scene in a black car with tinted windows heading eastbound on Q Street, NW.

Matthew Roth’s father asks for his murder trial not to be held on the anniversary of his death

Dave Roth will never forget the day his 24-year-old son was killed–but he had to remind those involved in trying the two men charged with his son’s death of the date.

Roth leaves at 4 a.m. from his home in New Jersey to attend every hearing for Ryan Thompson and Rasheed Murray. The two men were charged with murder after they were allegedly racing at 3 a.m. on July 19, 2015 near the intersection of 16th and Madison Streets, NW. Murray lost control of the car and his car landed atop Matthew Roth’s, according to his father.

Minutes after a hearing where he had to ask that the trial for his son’s murder not be held on the third anniversary of his son’s death, Roth smiled, boasting of his son’s accomplishments.

“He had a great 24 years, but it was cut short,” Roth said, scrolling through photos of his son in a graduation cap and gown.

Roth said his son was handsome, smart and kind. Never one to break the rules or to hurt a fly.

“Everything that happened just goes against who he was,” Dave Roth said.

Matthew Roth had come to the DC-area to pave his own way. Though his dad has his own CPA firm, Roth still decided to get a job on his own at Pricewaterhouse Coopers. He graduated in 2013 from the University of Maryland and passed the CPA test on the first try. Not on his resume was his love for traveling and sports.

The Roth family has set up a foundation at the University of Maryland’s Robert Smith School of Business to give scholarships to students wishing to attend the school from New Jersey.

Matthew Roth’s younger brother Zach has started an organ donor club at his school in the wake of his brother’s death.

Dave Roth sat in the courtroom last week wearing a jersey with his son’s name embroidered on the back as the prosecutor, judge and attorneys went back and forth, checking calendars, holiday schedules and vacation schedules to find a time to fit in his son’s murder trial.

While other people are on vacation and celebrating holidays, Dave Roth said he’s visiting his son’s grave. In the meantime, he will keep trudging along, waiting for the trial.

A trial date was eventually set for Sept. 5, 2018–more than three years after the crash that killed Matthew Roth.

“It’s just senseless. This didn’t have to happen,” Roth said. “That is the part that just kills me. And that’s why these guys need to go to jail.”

 

Rasheed Murray and Ryan Thompson trial set for September 2018

The trial date for two men who were allegedly drag racing when they struck and killed another driver was scheduled for September of next year, more than three years after the incident.

Ryan Thompson and Rasheed Murray have been charged with second-degree murder for the death of Matthew Jeffrey Roth in July 2015.

With Roth’s father in the courtroom, Judge Milton Lee, attorneys and the prosecutor went back and forth trying to find a date that would allow all parties to make the two-week trial.

After flipping through several months, the parties reached a trial start date of July 19, 2018. But after a prosecutor spoke to Roth’s father, donning a sports jersey with his son’s name embroidered on the back, the prosecutor relayed to the court that this trial date would coincide with the anniversary of Roth’s death and said it would be “traumatic for the family” for the trial to proceed on that date.

All parties then agreed that the soonest available date for a trial is September 2018.

Both Thompson and Murray have been released on bail as the case continues. Thompson arrived late and Murray did not make an appearance.

During the hearing, the attorneys for both defendants notified the judge of their intention to file motions to “sever”– to argue for the two men to be tried separately.

The motions will be discussed at a hearing this September.

Thompson’s attorney also asked that his client’s driving restrictions be removed, as it takes hours for him to get to and from work on the bus and metro systems. Milton swiftly denied this request and kept the driving restrictions in place.

Both men are due back in court September 29.

 

Chad Hawthorne charged with murder of Antonio Bassett

Chad Everett Hawthorne was arrested by the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force and charged with murder.

The 36-year-old is being charged with the murder of Antonio Bassett, who was fatally shot May 22.

Bassett was found inside a residence on the 3900 block of Pennsylvania Ave., SE. Emergency workers determined that he had died from his injuries by the time of their arrival to the residence.

Hawthorne is being charged with second-degree murder while armed.

George Joyner sentenced to 11 years

The man who pleaded guilty to the fatal stabbing of Keon Parker last August was sentenced to 11 years in prison last week.

George Joyner pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter as part of a plea deal.

According to charging documents, Joyner and Parker were engaged in a physical altercation on August 8. Joyner told detectives that he and Parker knew each other, and the fight began when Parker “bumped him.” Joyner also told police Parker said he was going to rob him.

Police were able to find Joyner after following a trail of blood to a shelter near the intersection of 2nd and E Streets, NW. Joyner suffered a cut to his arm during the fight. Parker was killed after being stabbed in the stomach.

Algernon Harvey Jones fatally shot Saturday morning


Police say a 32-year-old man, Algernon Harvey Jones, was fatally shot early Saturday morning, along with 7 other people who sustained non-life threatening gunshot wounds.

Jones was found in the 100 block of Q St. around 1:00 a.m.

When emergency workers arrived they determined Jones had already died from his injuries, and he was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

The remaining 7 victims were treated at area hospitals.

Two suspects are being sought by the police, both of which were described as black males wearing dark clothing.

They were last seen fleeing the scene in a black vehicle with tinted windows, heading eastbound on Q Street, NW.

Wayne Joaquin fatally shot Sunday afternoon


A 24-year-old man was fatally shot Sunday afternoon.

Wayne Joaquin was found in the 5200 block of Dix St., NE around 2:30 p.m.

When emergency workers arrived, they transported Wayne to an area hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Police have not yet released any suspect information.

Second suspect arrested in Christopher Heard’s murder case

Police on Tuesday arrested 37-year-old Malik Hewitt for the suspected shooting of 37-year-old Christopher Heard.

Hewitt was charged with first-degree-murder while armed.

Heard was shot on April 27, 2017 in the Woodland area of D.C. by 2307 Ainger Pl., SE.

Hewitt is the second suspect arrested in this case. On May 12, 31-year-old Nyekemia Everett was arrested and charged with first-degree-murder while armed. Everett is currently being held without bail and his next court date is June 16, 2017.