Jessica Willis Archives

Murder Co-Defendants Plan to Test DNA Evidence

Details Defense attorneys representing Deandre Sams and Raymond Mathis told DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein on Dec. 13 they intend to conduct independent testing of DNA evidence, some of which... Read More

Judge Further Delays Ruling on Motion to Dismiss Homicide Case

Details A homicide defendant will have to wait two more weeks to hear DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan’s decision on a motion to dismiss his case. Antonio Jackson, 38, is... Read More

Lack of Plea Offer Leaves Defense ‘Bewildered’

Details The prosecution told the court they wanted to give a murder victim’s family more time to discuss a plea offer after the defense counsel requested a reason for the delay.... Read More

Tensions Rise About Undisclosed Documents During Murder Trial

Details On July 11, defense counsel in murder trial continued to argue for the dismissal of a murder case before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan, citing the prosecution’s failure to... Read More

Motions Hearing Set in Homicide Case After Judge O’Keefe’s Recusal

Details A status hearing was held for Antonio Jackson, 37, on May 31 to address outstanding motions in his homicide case. Jackson was charged with first-degree murder following the killing of... Read More

Case Acquitted: Homicide Defendant Acquitted of all Charges

Details This case was acquitted on March 23, 2023. After three and a half weeks of trial, a jury found a homicide defendant not guilty. Kaevon Sutton, 21, was charged with... Read More

Case Acquitted: Parties Deliver Closing Arguments in Homicide Case

Details Sutton was acquitted of murder and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence on March 23, 2023. After a three-week trial, defense attorney Jessica Willis and the prosecution... Read More

Case Acquitted: Homicide Defendant Explains Why He Discharged His Firearm

Details Sutton was acquitted of murder and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence on March 23, 2023. On March 20, the defendant in a homicide case testified for... Read More

Case Acquitted: Defendant Argues Self Defense After Sharing His Childhood of Gun Violence in Homicide Case

Details Sutton was acquitted of murder and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence on March 23, 2023. During trial on March 16, the defense called Kaevon Sutton to... Read More

Case Acquitted: Prosecution Arrests One of its Witnesses in Murder Trial

Details Sutton was acquitted of murder and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence on March 23, 2023. On March 14, one of the prosecution’s witnesses testified in front... Read More

Case Acquitted: Judge Threatens to Ban Audience from Public Homicide Trial

Details Sutton was acquitted of murder and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence on March 23, 2023. On March 8, DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan threatened to... Read More

Case Acquitted: Possibility of Withheld Evidence Continues Jury Selection

Details Sutton was acquitted of murder and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence on March 23, 2023. The jury selection for a murder defendant was continued for Feb.... Read More