Officer’s Testimony in Murder Trial Cut Short

By Lizzie Brennan [former] , Carlin Fisher [former] - July 7, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On July 7, DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz adjourned proceedings in a murder trial after a fire alarm in the courthouse interrupted witness testimony. 

Nyekemia Everett, 35, and Malik Hewitt, 41, are charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 37-year-old Christopher Heard on the 2300 block of Ainger Place, SE, on April 27, 2017.

Parties delivered opening arguments the previous day. The prosecution alleges that the two defendants plotted to rob and kill Heard, who was selling the drug PCP to make money after having recently been released from jail.

The prosecution called two members of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to the witness stand.

The first witness, who was working as a patrol officer in 2017 but now has a different position in the department, said he responded to a request for assistance from officers who were at the crime scene on the night of the homicide. The prosecution admitted evidence including surveillance footage of the officer arriving in his patrol car as well as his Body Worn Camera (BWC) footage. The BWC footage shows Heard on the ground next to a vehicle with a cell phone near his left hand. 

The second witness, a patrol officer, recounted arriving at the crime scene shortly after three other officers. There, he said he was instructed to grab the victim’s phone from the ground. He then put the phone back on the ground to avoid tampering with evidence. His testimony was then interrupted by the fire alarm. 

Everyone present in the court was instructed to evacuate immediately. The trial is set to pick back up on July 8.

Hewitt is also charged with possession of a firearm during an act of violence, felony murder while armed and conspiracy in this case. 

Everett is also charged with possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm, fleeing a law enforcement officer, attempt to commit robbery while armed, conspiracy and obstructing justice.