A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a defendant charged in connection with a 2008 homicide to be sentenced in October. Read more »

A DC Superior Court judge found a defendant charged in connection with a 2008 homicide competent to be sentenced.  In 2015, Joshua Massaquoi was initially charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection with the shooting of 21-year-old Michael Francis Taylor on June 22, 2008, on the 600 block of Farragut Street, NW. Read more »

On June 24, a DC Superior Court judge scheduled a convicted murder defendant to be sentenced in September. Read more »

A DC Superior Court judge ruled that a defendant convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, accessory to second-degree murder and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence cannot be sentenced because he is incompetent. Read more »

A DC Superior Court judge delayed a May 25 sentencing hearing for a murder case at the defense’s request.  In February 2020, a jury found 34-year-old Mason Binion guilty of first-degree murder while armed in the 2008 shooting 21-year-old Michael Francis Taylor.  Taylor was shot in the back of the head on the 600 block of Farragut Street, NW, on June 22, 2008, following a dispute over drug money.  During the May 25 hearing, Quo Judkins said his client objects to going forward with the sentencing today. Read more »

A convicted murder defendant’s newly appointed defense attorney asked to continue an April 8 hearing, so that she could have more time to review the case. Read more »

A DC Superior Court judge granted an emergency motion for a defendant’s transfer to Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC's psychiatric institution. Read more »

A DC Superior Court judge granted a defense attorney’s motion to withdraw as counsel for a convicted murder defendant. Read more »

A DC Superior Court judge continued a status hearing to give defense counsel time to contact the case judge about his motion to withdraw.  In February 2020, a jury found 34-year-old Mason Binion guilty of first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 21 year-old Michael Francis Taylor on the 600 block of Farragut Street, NW on June 22, 2008.  Binion is being held at DC Jail as he waits to be sentenced. Read more »

A DC Superior Court judge denied June 30 a defendant’s request to be taken off the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP.) Joshua Massaquoi pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to commit a crime of violence, accessory to murder after the fact and carrying a pistol without a license. Read more »

Judges didn’t release as many homicide defendants in 2019 as they did in 2018, data shows According to  DC Code, Washington, DC criminal defendants cannot be held in jail from an inability to pay bail.  The specific DC code language states that the decision to release a defendant falls to a Superior Court judge:  A judicial officer shall order the pretrial release of a defendant  subject to: (A) Condition that the person not commit a local, state, or federal crime during the period of release; and (B) Least restrictive further condition, or combination of conditions, that the judicial officer determines will reasonably assure the appearance of the person as required and the safety of any other person and the community.  These conditions can include maintaining or seeking employment, maintaining or beginning an educational program, or restrictions on personal associations, travel or residence among others.  Several homicide defendants are released to the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP). Read more »

After four days of deliberation, a jury convicted a man of a murder that happened 12 years ago. Read more »

During a status hearing on Feb. Read more »

During closing arguments of a jury trial, a prosecutor asked the jury not to decide a murder defendant's fate based on doubts that come from speculation. Read more »

During a murder trial Feb. Read more »