Probable Cause Not Found In Murder Case

By D.C. Witness Staff - November 10, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects |

“I cannot remember the last time I found no probable cause in a murder case,” said DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz after a few minutes of deliberation. 

During a Nov. 10 hearing, Judge Kravitz dismissed a murder case after ruling that it did not have enough evidence to go to trial.

Kyree Fields, 20, was charged with first-degree murder while armed in the death of 23-year-old Keith Rawlings, who was fatally shot July 26 on the 800 block of Chesapeake Street, SE.

Judge Kravitz agreed with defense attorney Kevann Gardner that the prosecution’s lack of witnesses and motive demonstrate that the case lacks probable cause.

He expressed the belief that neither the photographic evidence of Fields in the car 12 hours before the murder nor video of him four and a half hours before suggested that Fields was at the crime scene, especially since the vehicle was stolen.

The lead Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective testified on the contents of the video, as the prosecutor did not share the video during the hearing.

The prosecutor relied heavily on the testimony of the lead detective. During yesterday’s hearing, her direct examination only included the identification of Fields and the adoption of the detective’s affidavit into his testimony.

According to court documents, gunfire detection technology picked up 34 gunshots at the time of the crime. One of the shell-casings ended up on Rawlings’ windshield. 

The prosecutor cited a National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) report that suggested the pistol found on Fields during his arrest—which occurred seven days after the murder—was a match. However, Gardner pointed out that the report is only a lead and does not constitute as evidence since it has not been confirmed by a forensic scientist. 

The prosecution also said that because Fields allegedly tossed the pistol away during his arrest, the action suggests ‘consciousness of guilt.’ She said Fields knew he was guilty of the murder, so he tossed the murder weapon. 

However, Judge Kravitz questioned her logic, citing that Fields had been on escape status from a halfway house and was barred from being in possession of a gun. 

“In my view, it’s widely inappropriate to draw an inference that his flight shows a consciousness of guilt about the homicide,” said Judge Kravitz.

The prosecutor maintained that the physical and video evidence suggest there is enough to find probable cause. She also said that another judicial officer found probable cause in an earlier hearing.

Judge Kravitz reminded her that he must independently make that determination and asked her what her understanding of probable cause is.

Gardner argued that the evidence presented by the prosecution was weak. He cited the failure of the prosecution to produce a motive or any witnesses of the incident. 

Gardner pointed out that the prosecution did not submit evidence linking Fields to the scene of the crime, even though the prosecutor said the defendant was known in the area.

Gardner also said his client is young and facing 30 to 60 years in prison largely based on a picture of Fields with the vehicle supposedly used in the shooting. 

“[It’s] based on a picture taken the previous day,” said Gardner. 

During cross-examination, the MPD detective said the police did not have a clear picture of the people inside the vehicle. He also said there were at least two people in the car at the time of the shooting. 

Gardner also brought up two additional suspects in this case. 

The detective testified that one of them was ruled out because a relative of the suspect showed the MPD video footage of the suspect at their house at the time of the crime. The footage showed him entering the home hours before the crime and leaving hours after. 

Gardner argued that the relative had an incentive to manipulate the footage, and MPD did not adequately investigate the lead. The attorney said there were several tips that accused this suspect of the murder.  

The second suspect was arrested in a separate case on an assault with the intent to kill charge. Detectives found the video of Fields brandishing a gun on the day of Rawlings’ death on the suspect’s phone. 

According to court documents, this suspect is also featured on another video with a gun the day before the homicide. Court documents also state GPS locations place the suspect near the scene of the crime minutes after the shooting. 

However, the detective testified that this suspect was not charged in connection with Rawlings’ murder

Fields is released in this case; however, he is still being held in two other matters. 

Maria Marzullo wrote this article.