Prosecution Can Use Gun Evidence in Murder Trial

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DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park ruled prosecutors can use a recovered gun as evidence as in a homicide case but didn’t preclude a possible self-defense claim on March 28.

Ranje Reynolds, 27, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 27-year-old Tarek Boothe on Jan. 31, 2022, on the 3200 block of M Street, NW.

Initially, the prosecution wanted to preclude self-defense as an argument. Judge Park didn’t rule on the issue saying it was inappropriate before trial.

The prosecution also filed a motion to admit evidence Reynolds was a flight risk in that he canceled a romantic trip to leave for Jamaica. Judge Park granted the motion.

Finally, the prosecution motioned to admit evidence of a prior altercation and recovery of a gun.

Reynolds’ defense attorney, Cheryl Stein, didn’t dispute the prior altercation but challenged introducing a gun since there’s no indication it was used in the crime.

The prosecution said that a witness saw Reynolds grab a gun and use it on many occasions.

Judge Park granted the motion, saying the color and shape of the gun described by the witness formed a reasonable basis for inferring it was Reynolds’ gun.

Stein objected to the prosecution’s intention to introduce testimony that Reynolds was seen with guns on other occasions, arguing that gun ownership is completely irrelevant, She said it’s an attempt to impugn Reynolds’ character.

However, Judge Park said that Reynold’s gun ownership is important to the prosecution’s case, as it indicates Reynolds knew where the gun was and suggested Boothe’s killing could have been premeditated.

The defense filed a motion to exclude the prosecution’s second round of testing of DNA evidence.

According to Stein, the lab that conducted the prosecution’s first round of testing failed to report the results for two months. When the results finally became available, the defense asked for the trial to be delayed so they would have time to conduct independent testing.

The prosecution used this delay to conduct a second round of testing.

Stein argued that the slow reporting by the prosecution’s lab violated Reynolds’ constitutional rights by forcing him to choose between his right to independent DNA testing and his right to a speedy trial. She said the prosecution should not be allowed to benefit from this situation by pursuing further testing.

Judge Park denied the motion, reasoning that there was no basis to exclude the test results and no case law requiring the prosecution to cease their investigation.

Parties are expected to reconvene on April 14.