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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- August 21, 2018
Court
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Homicides
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Suspects
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During a status hearing, defense attorneys in a 2015 murder case told a judge that their client acted in self-defense and requested evidence to support their theory.
Brian Jackson is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 23-year-old Joshua ” Pooty” Steele on the 600 block of Alabama Avenue, SE.
According to court documents, Jackson, 29, told police that Steele approached him and started to pick a fight. At first the two engaged in a verbal dispute, but then the fight escalated when Steele punched Jackson in the face and they had to be separated. While apart Steele told Jackson he was going to kill him. Ultimately, the duo fought again and that’s when Jackson allegedly pulled out a pocket knife, stabbed Steele and fled.
On Aug. 16, the defense requested that the prosecution hand over Metropolitan Police Department reports and files as well as any other documents that would support their theory that Jackson acted in self-defense when he allegedly stabbed Steele.
DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson said the prosecution had until Aug. 24 to set a date for when they would have the materials ready to give to the defense.
Jackson is currently released under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP). John Fowler and Dominique Winters, Jackson’s attorneys, requested that he not be required to have a Global Positioning System (GPS), a device used to track his location.
Fowler argued that Jackson has a job and has been in “perfect compliance” for three years.
Judge Dayson noted the severity of Jackson’s charge and that he does not have a curfew nor is he required to report for drug testing. Judge Dayson said Jackson’s release is under the “least restrictive means” and denied the defense’s request.
Jackson is scheduled for another status hearing on Nov. 30.