Probable Cause Found in Homicide Case

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DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe found probable cause that the defendant in a homicide case is the perpetrator during a June 14 hearing.

Trenton Collins, 21, is charged with first-degree murder while armed – felony murder for his alleged involvement in a robbery turned homicide that resulted in the death of 41-year-old Philip Prendergast on March 27 on the 5100 block of Georgia Avenue, NW.

The prosecution brought forth the lead Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer who recounted the search of Collin’s home and evidence collected.

The officer described finding clothing in Collins’ and his roommate’s bedroom that appeared to match the clothing that the assailants were wearing during the robbery. Most identifiable were a pair of white Air Force 1’s that were found in Collins’ bedroom that appear to match one of the assailants based on video footage of the robbery.

According to the witness, MPD officers found a black ski mask, latex gloves, and a handgun with a magazine and ammunition within Collins’ bedroom.

As per the officer, MPD reviewed video footage that documented the robbery and showed the alleged assailants leaving the scene of the crime and returning to Collins’ residence.

Prosecutors asserted that with the evidence found at Collins’ residence and the video footage MPD reviewed that probable cause was apparent.

Collin’s attorney, David Akulian, argued that the evidence the prosecution presented was circumstantial, and that when interviewing a witness who saw another unknown individual other than Collins, police did not gather any identifying information other than short hair.

Akulian said that based on what the prosecution presented the assailant could have easily been someone else.

After hearing both sides, Judge O’Keefe found probable cause Collins is the perpetrator.

Court is set to reconvene on Sept. 13.