Parties Anticipate 40-50 Witnesses for Double Murder Trial

Thank you for reading D.C. Witness. Help us continue our mission into 2024.

Donate Now

Parties in a double murder case said they are ready to go to trial.  

Alonzo Lewis, 35, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder while armed for his alleged roles in the deaths of Jaquon Helm, 40, and Venius Badgett, 35, on May 26, 2018. Helm and Badgett were both found on the 4600 block of Galveston Street, SW, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

During the Nov. 3 hearing, both parties reported they will be ready for trial by early January. The prosecution anticipates calling 20-30 witnesses while the defense anticipates calling five to ten. 

Judge Marisa Demeo ruled that all expert witnesses should be finalized by Jan. 5. She also scheduled a  status hearing for Dec. 10. 

The prosecution declared that they will not be doing any more DNA testing. The prosecution also plans to file a motion asking the court not allow certain evidence that might prejudice the jury.

Defense attorney Joseph Yarbough filed an emergency motion for his immediate release from DC Jail. This motion comes following an inspection of DC Jail conducted by The US Marshal Service on Oct. 18. Their report concluded that the living conditions of the facility were unsanitary, according to documents

Judge Demeo scheduled a motion hearing for Nov. 12 to rule on that emergency motion. 

Follow this case