Scheduling Conflict May Delay Murder Trial

By D.C. Witness Staff - August 10, 2018
Court | Homicides | Suspects |

Even though a DC Superior Court judge said she wanted a man, charged with a six-year-old murder, to go to trial in January, there may still be a delay.

Reynaud Cook is accused of shooting Yolanda Stone, his girlfriend, while their children watched. Stone was 30 years old. Cook, 34, is charged with first-degree murder while armed. The incident occurred in 2012 on the 3300 block of Alden Place, NE.

According to Cook’s defense attorney Brian McDaniel, the current trial date, which is set for Jan. 28, conflicts with his obligation for another trial. Still, Judge Judith Bartnoff was reluctant to delay the trial any further.

“This needs to be tried,” Judge Bartnoff said. “I’ve lost track of the trials we’ve continued.”

A new trial date was set for April 22, 2019, but Judge Bartnoff said she would try to help free up the defense attorney so he could make a trial date in November. According to DC Courts, a trial date was also set on Nov. 27.

A status hearing is scheduled on Sept. 7.

Cook is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for the murder of Nacarto Gladden.