Trial Delays Continue in Double Homicide Case

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On April 21, parties continued jury selection on what was supposed to be the first day of trial.

Alphonso Walker, 46, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection to the death of Delonte Wilson,23, and Antone Brown,44, near the 400 block of 61st Street, NE on April 25, 2018.

Parties were not able to reach the jurors’ threshold number, out of the beginning 80-juror panel, to go on to final jury selection because too many jurors already set plans for various reasons, including the Memorial Day holiday.

An additional 30-juror panel will report to the court on April 24 for the threshold to be met. The trial is scheduled to start that afternoon.

“This is a process that is tedious sometimes but it guarantees our accused a fair trial,” said DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt to potential jurors before she asked them to return on Monday for final jury selection.

After the jury was dismissed, parties continued to argue over evidence and motions regarding trial.

The prosecution requested a transcript from a secret recording to be allowed to come in as needed during trial with some redaction.

According to the prosecutor, the recording was taken from a conversation between two of the prosecution’s witnesses.

The conversation includes a friend of Walker, who said Walker had told her about the shooting, telling her friend about the conversation and what the defendant told her. The friend secretly recorded Walker’s friend by slipping a phone in her bra, the prosecution stated.

Defense attorney Kevaan Grander objected to the whole transcript, saying it was a hearsay statement and the prosecution has no evidence that what the witness was saying was actually what Walker told her.

Judge Brandt allowed the transcript to be used because it is consistent with the witness’s Grand Jury testimony, and it should be left up to the jury to decide whether or not it’s true.

In addition, Garder requested for all parties to address Walker by his name during trial instead of “defendant” to avoid any bias.

The prosecution objected to this request, saying they have the right to address Walker by ”defendant” because that is his role in the case.

Judge Brandt requested more time to reconsider the oral request because, according to the prosecution, she had already objected to it a few months ago.

Parties are scheduled to return to court on April 24.