Prosecutor Agrees to Speak at Sentencing, Says Witness

By D.C. Witness Staff - February 5, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

During a murder trial Feb. 4, a key witness told jurors that the prosecution agreed to speak on his behalf at his sentencing if he told the truth.

Mason Binion, 32, is charged with first-degree murder while armed after allegedly shooting Michael Francis Taylor, 21, on the 600 block of Farragut Street, NW on June 22, 2008. Apparently, Binion and Taylor were friends. Binion’s co-defendant, Victor Carvajal’s case was dismissed the day before opening statements. Carvajal was also charged with first-degree murder while armed. 

D.C. Witness previously reported that, Joshua Massaquoi, who was Binion’s co-defendant and present during Taylor’s murder, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder, carrying a pistol during a crime of violence and accessory to second-degree murder.

During his continued testimony Feb. 4, Massaquoi said that he and the prosecutor had reached a plea agreement, for the charges listed above, and that when he spoke to his defense lawyer, Matthew Davies, he was advised that he could spend up to 40 years in prison.

Massaquoi said that as part of the plea agreement the prosecutor in Binion’s case would speak on his behalf at his sentencing.

Because of the agreement with the prosecutor in his separated case, Massaquoi would only have to spend between 7-14 years in prison with a probationary period afterwards.

The initial detective who investigated the case also testified. He said that in 2008 when the murder occurred he did not have Binion’s car analyzed for fingerprints. The detective said the prints weren’t analyzed because everyone who was in the car on the night of the murder was an associate of Binion. It would not have been unusual for their prints to be in the car.

He also said that it was known that Binion’s cell phone was off and at that time, in 2008, landline records could not be subpoenaed.

Closing arguments are scheduled to begin on Feb. 5 .