The prosecution argued a defendant hunted down the victim during closing arguments in a murder trial before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on Dec. 10.
George Sutton, 46, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction greater than a year. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 34-year-old John Coleman on May 1, 2023 on the 2000 block of M Street, NE. Coleman suffered from three gunshot wounds to his neck, knee, and thigh.
Sutton’s attorney, Steven Kirsh, called Coleman’s mother to testify about a conversation she overheard two days before her son’s murder. She testified that she was at home with her window open when she heard her son arguing with a man outside, during which the man threatened to kill Coleman.
Coleman’s mother told prosecutors during cross-examination that she did not see anyone outside other than her son and the other individual who she described as an associate of his. The prosecution confirmed Coleman’s mother had no knowledge of her son’s murder other than the evidence presented at trial.
Kiersh rested the defense case and the prosecution recalled the lead Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective for their rebuttal case. The detective said during his investigation, Coleman’s mother told him the name of the man she heard threaten him. However, the detective said the man was not a suspect because the investigation focused on the gold sedan the shots originated from and there was no evidence that connected him to a gold vehicle.
The prosecution also introduced video evidence of the man on a bike at 12:40 p. m. the day of the murder at the intersection of 18th and M Streets, NE. Kiersh confirmed with the detective during cross-examination that the man’s bike traveled towards the crime scene. The detective clarified that he biked towards the crime scene after the shots were fired.
After the prosecution concluded their rebuttal case, parties presented closing arguments.
The prosecutors asserted Sutton had “a gun, a car, and the vengeance to see it through,” but did not anticipate the “unbiased, hard data.” They claimed video footage, cell phone data, and an eyewitness incriminated Sutton.
The eyewitness described a gold sedan and a bike when she heard shots and saw the victim on the ground, recounted the prosecution. They added that the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) investigated her description and determined through a license plate reader that the vehicle was registered to Sutton at Quarles Street.
Through video footage, the prosecution detailed the path they alleged Sutton took in his gold Infiniti, beginning at 11:47 a. m. on 21st Street, NE, when Coleman threw an object at his car. According to prosecutors, Sutton then drove to his home on Quarles Street, NE, where he remained for about eleven minutes, before returning to the “exact location where John Coleman dared to throw something at his car.” Prosecutors claimed Sutton drove around the neighborhood multiple times searching for Coleman before he fatally shot him at 12:26 p. m.
The prosecution argued cell phone data corroborated the video. “The timing works perfectly,” stated the prosecutor.
The prosecution added that during an interview with MPD, Sutton identified himself in the initial video footage of Coleman throwing an object at his car. “The defendant’s admission is the cherry on top of this case,” said prosecutors but argued Sutton did “olympic sized backflips” to later change his story.
“Coleman was biking, listening to music, and headed to his death,” said prosecutors, while Sutton “patiently and diligently hunted down Coleman and killed him.”
The prosecution asked the jury to convict Sutton for “the calculated ambush that ended Coleman’s life on that quiet neighborhood curbside.”
In defense closing, Kiersh reminded the jury their recollection of evidence should control the verdict. He said evidence and facts cannot be invented to fit a theory and the prosecutors had the burden.
“There are many doubts,” said Kiersh and noted the prosecution’s case lacked DNA, firearm, fingerprint, and identification evidence. Kiersh emphasized that no witness testimony said Sutton murdered Coleman.
“The car is not on trial,” Kiersh accused the prosecutors of merging the defendant with the vehicle. “We have proven that’s the defendant’s gold sedan,” prosecutors later asserted during their rebuttal argument.
Kiersh told the jury that Sutton lived in the area and therefore it was not unusual for him to be there. Prosecutors disputed this claim, arguing Sutton did not live in the neighborhood and had no legitimate reason to be circling it.
Kiersh also pointed to Coleman’s mother’s testimony as evidence of a reasonable possibility someone else murdered him.
Finally, Kiersh asked the jury to “make this a fair fight” and return a verdict of not guilty for Sutton.
Parties will reconvene when the jury reaches a verdict.
