Prosecution Opens with Lack of Forensic Evidence in 2016 Murder Trial

By D.C. Witness Staff - April 24, 2018
Court | Homicides | Suspects |

A 2016 murder trial recently began with the prosecution’s admission that forensic evidence would not be provided.

Donald Hairstonis charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting his ex-girlfriend, Stephanie Goodloe, while she slept in her bed at her home located on the 700 block of Kentucky Avenue, SE.

The prosecution said that even though they believed they had a strong case against Hairston, who was 49 at the time, they were not going to be able to provide finger prints, bullet shell casings, cellular location tracking or DNA evidence.

Instead, the prosecution opened April 23 with the victim’s 11-year-old daughter’s 911 call. The daughter told the operator, in a frantic voice, that she believed the man who shot her mother was her stepdad.

The daughter said she heard her mother screaming and loud bangs. She said she saw a man wearing a hoodie, who she believed was her stepfather, walk out of her mother’s room , passing her’s as he exited the house.

The prosecution is expected to present around 40 witnesses, including experts, Metropolitan Police Department employees, and Goodloe’s family and friends. The prosecution said they will also present recordings, text messages, emails and phone calls made by Hairston to show guilt.

Apparently, Hairston had been harassing Goodloe, 40, and her child after the two parted ways. Goodloe filed a restraining order against Hairston days before the shooting because he allegedly slashed her tires and stole her keys.

According to the prosecution, one of the motives was that Hairston wished ill-will on Goodloe because he couldn’t control her.

“All she wanted was freedom,” the prosecution told the jury.

During the defense’s opening statement, attorney Lauren Johnson pointed out that the daughter couldn’t be sure it was her stepfather who shot her mother.

“The government has it wrong,” Johnson told the jury.

The defense pointed toward the absurdity of Hairston killing Goodloe feet away from her daughter, who he also claimed as his own. Hairston had been in the girl’s life since she was a toddler and continued to care for her after he and Goodloe ended their relationship.

“He did not do it,” Johnson said. “Convicting an innocent man for a terrible crime who did not commit it will not undo the tragedy, but add to a terrible injustice.”

The defense said the police failed to investigate properly, pointing out that a woman who made $30,000 on Goodloe’s death was not investigated.

Even though defense attorney Mani Golzari has made several motions to dismiss the case, continuously saying that it has been conducted in bad faith, Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson has denied the requests.

The prosecution is expected to continue arguments on April 24.