Punch With ‘Significant Force’ Proves Probable Cause, Judge Says

By D.C. Witness Staff - October 5, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

A DC Superior Court judge said the amount of force behind a punch was enough to show probable cause.

Edward Banks is charged with second degree murder for his alleged role in the death of Abraham Binn at a homeless shelter on the 2700 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE on Aug. 20.

Judge Juliet Mckenna said that since Banks used, “significant force,” it shows that he was “attempting to inflict some sort of additional harm to Binn.”

During a preliminary hearing on Oct. 4, the prosecution showed surveillance footage of Banks, 47, hitting Binn while the victim was urinating in a hallway. In the video, Binn immediately fell backwards and hit his head on the tile flooring.

According to the case’s lead detective, MPD was notified that Binn was suffering from severe brain swelling and internal brain bleeds after the assault.

The detective also said Banks identified himself during an interview from a still image.

Apparently, both men lived at the shelter and there were two witnesses who worked at the shelter that identified Banks as the culprit.

Defense counsel, Ieshaah Murphy, requested that the judge not find probable for second degree murder but instead voluntary manslaughter since Banks was not armed and “one punch does not suggest he was personally aware of the additional harm he caused.”

Murphy also requested that Banks be released to a bed-to-bed program because he has mental health issues and a drug addiction.

Banks is being held without bail at DC Jail.

Banks is scheduled for a felony status conference on Nov. 1