Preliminary Hearing Date Set for Murder Defendant 

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During a status hearing on Feb. 1,  DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan scheduled a preliminary hearing for the second-degree murder case along with discussing a motion for release previously filed by the defense.

Thirty-one-year-old Julian Ruffin is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing Alphonso Lee, 38, during an incident on Oct. 7, 2022, on the 1500 block of Butler Street, SE.  

Ruffin previously rejected a plea back in November 2022 for voluntary manslaughter while armed, resulting in 6 years of incarceration and 5 years of supervised release. 

 A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 15