Trouble with Phone Passcode Lead to Delay in Murder Case

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The prosecution’s difficulty cracking an Iphone passcode led to a trial being moved until 2024.

Carson Posey, 23, is charged with allegedly murdering Shantal Hill, 28, on April 15, 2020, on the 1200 block of North Capitol Street, NW. Posey is charged with first-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.

The prosecution mentioned there had been a delay in the case due to an inability to access the victim’s phone. The prosecutor said the software being used only allows him to attempt 10,000 different passcode combinations per week out of the theoretical million possible combinations.

Defense attorney Jacqueline Cadman requested that the defense have access to the phone.

Cadman said the defense has an expert that would use a different method of accessing the phone that might work better than the prosecution’s method.

She explained that the expert would utilize common combination codes and work through the possibilities. Cadman also mentioned that issues with the phone originally had a deadline of March of 2022.

DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt denied the defense’s request for access, allowing the prosecution to keep working on the current plan.

Both the prosecution and defense agreed that an extension for trial would be needed, so Judge Raffinan set a new trial date for Jan. 8, 2024.

The parties are scheduled to return for a hearing on Feb. 10.

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