Case Acquitted: Victim’s Mother Testifies in Murder Case

By Sylvie Sussman [former] - August 7, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Green was acquitted of murder on Aug. 24, 2023.

Prosecutors continued their case in a 2020 homicide trial before DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo on Aug. 7.

Tamika Green, 37, allegedly shot and killed her boyfriend during an argument on Feb. 20, 2020 in an apartment on the 1600 block of 18th Street, SE. She is charged with second-degree murder, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license. 

Bryan Tate Jr., 37, was shot three times in the shoulder and hip. He died from his injuries. Defense attorneys say Green was acting in self-defense after Tate physically abused her. 

Prosecutors called two witnesses. The first was Tate’s mother. 

She described Tate and Green’s relationship as volatile but not violent, saying “they would get up in each others’ faces but [she] never saw anything else.” However, she also stated that she had seen both Tate and Green push each other at times

The defense later probed the witness about Tate’s former relationships, including statements made to the grand jury that both Green and a former partner told her about times Tate had been physically violent toward them.

Testimony by a fingerprint analyst was cut short because a severe weather warning forced the courthouse to shut down early. 

The expert witness’ testimony and the trial will continue on Aug. 8.