Prosecution Withdraws Objection on Trial Date

By D.C. Witness Staff - August 21, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

During a status hearing Aug. 21, the prosecution formally withdrew their objection to continue a trial date.

Deon Crowell, 50, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing Joni Rockingham, 53, on the 300 block of 34th Street, NE on Dec. 12, 2017.

DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson scheduled an emergency hearing after the prosecution withdrew their objection to continue a trial date via email on Aug. 20.

D.C. Witness previously reported that defense counsel, Elizabeth Weller, motioned for a continued trial date because the prosecution had not turned over all the case’s documents, despite the trial being scheduled on Oct. 15.

Weller said she received some of the body camera footage but when she emailed the prosecution on Aug. 20, she got no response. Weller said the prosecution withdrew their objection to the continuance within an hour of her email.

Weller also motioned for Crowell’s release until the new trial date.

The prosecution, who said she was not well-versed on the case, asked the judge to table the issue until her co-counsel returned or until she could review the case.

Judge Dayson is expected to rule on Crowell’s release at a status hearing scheduled on Sept. 27.

The judge also asked for dates the prosecution would disclose case documents and reason for the timing of the disclosures to be ready for that hearing.

Judge Dayson scheduled a new trial date on Sept. 1, 2020.