Over a year ago, three men were charged with the murder of Matthew Shlonsky. The victim was caught in crossfire as he was exiting a car in the Shaw neighborhood.
On Monday morning, suspects Andrew Dudley, Christopher Proctor, and Marcus King sat shackled in the courtroom while attorneys debated pushing the trial date further back. While the prosecution requested to delay the trial, each defense attorney asked that they consider how long the suspects have been held already.
When told that King wants to testify on behalf of Proctor, the defense and the prosecution could not come to terms on whether or not to try the three men separately. Judge Lynn Leibovitz argued that trying all men together and hearing testimonies from suspects for another suspect would confuse blame and, ultimately, confuse the jury. The issue also arose that some statements are only admissible against one suspect and not all three, which would further complicate the case in the eyes of the jurors.
The defense made a last request before the hearing came to an end, asking that the judge separate the suspects in prison. Leibovitz refused, saying it is not her role to intervene in prison placement.
Leibovitz asked that she be given more time to study the case and follow up on July 14.
