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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- November 14, 2018
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Suspects
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During closing statements Nov. 13, the prosecution addressed why witnesses, in a murder trial, changed their stories on the stand.
Kenneth Adams is charged with first-degree murder while armed, obstruction of justice and other firearms offenses for allegedly shooting 21-year-old Dante “Te” Kinard on the 1800 block of Benning Road, NE in 2016.
According to the prosecution, some witnesses acted in “self-preservation” when they made inconsistent statements to the jury about what they saw on the night of the shooting. The prosecution emphasized that the witnesses changed their testimonies because they didn’t want to be labeled as “hot” or a “snitch”.
However, D.C. Witness reported earlier that several witnesses told the jury that police coerced them into identifying Adams.
In an additional attempt to prove Adams’ guilt, the prosecution also referenced a witness who identified Adams as the shooter. He “summoned the courage and pointed [his] finger” at Adams, the prosecutor said during closing arguments.
According to the prosecution, Adams, 20, walked toward a group of people on Benning Road and pulled out a gun and started shooting. Apparently, Adams was acting in part to an ongoing feud between the Langston and 21st and I Street neighborhoods. Kinard was not the intended target in the shooting.
The defense is scheduled to make their closing arguments on Nov. 14.