Vehicular Homicide Defendant Pleads Not Guilty 

By D.C. Witness Staff - July 7, 2023
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In a July 7 hearing the defense argued that a suspect accused of striking and killing a victim with a car was the wrong man.

Duron Hudson, 23, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, unauthorized use of a vehicle, destruction of property over $1000, and first-degree theft, for his alleged involvement in an incident that occurred on the 1200 block of U Street, NW, on November 19, 2019, killing Nahzil Zaid Abdul Rahim.

According to court documents Hudson and the Rahim were arguing when Hudson threw bricks at the victim who was unable to run away before Hudson allegedly ran over him with a car. The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide and the cause “multiple blunt force injuries.”

At the hearing, Hudson pleaded not guilty and demanded a speedy trial. Hudson’s defense attorney, Nathaniel Mensah, said there was poor communication with the prosecution and that he needed to see all the evidence in the case.

Mensah also doubted Hudson’s presence at the scene and claimed investigators from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) misidentified him as a suspect. Mensah noted an apparent discrepancy between a possible suspect in the video footage around the time of the incident, and the defendant.

However, a GPS tracking device showed Hudson was near the scene, according to a police report.
D.C. Superior Court Judge Sean Staples set the next hearing for Aug. 11.