Thank you for reading D.C. Witness.
Help us continue our mission into 2025 by donating to our end of year campaign.
By
Sylvie Sussman [former]
, Rosie Rohrer [former] - June 13, 2023
Court
|
Daily Stories
|
Homicides
|
Shooting
|
Suspects
|
Victims
|
On June 12, prosecuting attorneys in a 2013 murder trial rested their case.
Victor Coley, 62, was initially found guilty in 2015 for his involvement in a shooting that injured four on Nov. 6, 2013 on the 3900 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE. He was convicted in that case on 13 charges, including assault with intent to kill and possession of a firearm.
In 2021, Dennis Foster, one of Coley’s victims, succumbed to his wounds. As a result, Coley was charged with 17 counts, including first-degree murder, in 2022 and is standing trial again as an extension of the original case.
DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan is overseeing the complex proceeding involving many witnesses and a large amount of transcripted material.
Defense attorneys Carrie Weletz and Jesse Winograd introduced a former medical examiner who claimed that Foster died from drug intoxication caused by prescription medications, directly contradicting the testimony of a female medical examiner who testified for the prosecution.
In an effort to impeach the witness, prosecutors noted that he had been accused of sexually harassing former female colleagues at the DC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Furthermore, the prosecution questioned the witness about allegations he frequently overruled female medical examiners on the basis that they’re women.
The witness categorically denied all accusations, saying he was just a “tough boss” who “hired most of those women.”
The prosecution then called a former Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sergeant who arrived on the scene just minutes after the shooting in 2013. She described “show-up procedures” performed at the scene.
They involve victims or witnesses of a crime identifying the suspect.
Three show-up procedures were performed at the scene of the crime that day, identifying Coley as the alleged culprit. Two victims and an eyewitness identified Coley as he walked past them on the scene.
The trial will continue with defense arguments on June 13.