Parties Wait on Indictment Reading to Move Forward with Trial

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A DC Superior Court judge will wait until an indictment is handed down to begin trial.

Rakeem Willis, 28, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Sean Shuler, a resident of Capitol Heights, Md., Javon Abney, a resident of Southeast, DC, and Tyrik Hagood, a resident of Northeast, DC, on the 1500 block of Fort Davis Place, SE on June 12, 2019. Shuler, 26, Abney, 26, and Hagood, 24, all displayed no signs of life when found at the scene.

According to the prosecution, the grand jury is supposed to indict Willis by the March 12 deadline. 

Defense attorney, Kevin Irving,  said he decided to continue with the case in order to allow additional time for evidence to be provided by the prosecution. 

An arraignment date is scheduled to occur on Aug. 14, with the intent of later scheduling a status hearing in September of 2020. If the status hearing is rescheduled then the trial readiness hearing and the trial would also be rescheduled.

This article was written by Noa Donvan

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