Witness Plans to Recant Statement to Police, Defense Says

By D.C. Witness Staff - May 3, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

During a preliminary hearing May 2, the defense sought to discredit the prosecution’s theory. 

Roscoe Jones is charged with felony murder while armed for his alleged role in the death of 33-year-old Mark Mosley on the 600 block of 46th Place, SE on Feb. 24.

The prosecution theory is that Mosley was killed in a robbery attempt. 

Surveillance footage shows Mosley walking, but at one point stops and raises his hands. Three individuals then approach Mosley, one of which was holding a “dark object” that seems like a gun. 

A detective identified Jones, 23, as the shooter on May 2. Video footage shows Jones approach Mosley, first. Jones was holding a “dark object.” The men then move out of the view of the camera.

The prosecution said a witness corroborated the detective’s testimony, placing Jones at the scene. Apparently, Jones and two other men approach Mosley. All four men got into an argument, the witness said.  The witness said the men took Mosley’s jacket. The witness didn’t see the men after that. 

According to defense attorney, Blase Kearney, the witness, who is the only witness linking Jones to the crime, plans to recant a statement given to police.

Furthermore, Kearney claims the footage skips and doesn’t actually show a robbery taking place.

Kearney also noted that the police failed to investigate other possible leads of people who could have had motive to kill Mosley.

According to Kearney, a witness told police that Mosley was linked to a Dec. 4, 2015, homicide. Kearney said Mosley was shot in the weeks following the homicide.

According to D.C. Witness data, the Metropolitan Police Department released a press release for one homicide on Dec. 4, 2015. The decedent in the homicide was identified as 46-year-old Sean Dillard and he was fatally shot on the 5200 block of C Street, SE.

Kearney also pointed out that a detective testified that a witness stated there were men in Simply City that had problems with Mosley. The detective said he didn’t follow up about the victim’s issue with men in the area.

DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson said she plans to make a ruling on probable cause and Jones’ hold status at the next hearing, which is scheduled for May 7.

Rebekah Herman contributed to this article.