‘You Need to Listen More and Talk Less,’ Judge Says to Homicide Defendant

By Grace Nardei [former] - March 18, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On March 15, before DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe,  a homicide defendant argued to represent himself in a homicide case.

Darrell Moore, 47, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and unlawful possession of a firearm, for his alleged involvement in the murder of 37-year-old Julius Hayes at the 300 block of 18th Street NE on April 3, 2021.

According to court documents, an individual, identified as Moore, allegedly followed Hayes down a residential street in a black Ford Fusion, got into a verbal altercation with Hayes and shot him six times.  

At the hearing, Moore told Judge O’Keefe that he wished to fire defense attorney Brandon Burrell and represent himself for his hearings, as he wanted to negotiate his own trial date and file his own motions that his previous attorneys refused to pursue. 

Court records show Moore previously filed a motion to dismiss his indictment, suppress witness identification and request a hearing over ineffective counsel.

“I just want a fair trial. I want my motions,” Moore said.

Judge O’Keefe advised him that if Moore’s motions did not make sense at the time, then Moore’s defense attorney would have had to have made a decision that he thought was best. He also advised Moore that he needed an attorney to negotiate his trial date for him.

Burell stated that some individuals get along better with particular attorneys and that he and Moore got off to a “bad start.”

The prosecution objected to Moore’s request to fire his defense attorney, arguing that Moore was only trying to put things off without any good reason. 

They added that Moore had previously fired three other Public Defenders, and stated that although Moore has the right to an attorney, he does not have the right to an attorney he can “get a beer with.” 

Moore claimed he had no time to talk to Burell, who was assigned to his case a month ago. 

According to Moore, he wasn’t trying to cause trouble, but insisted the rest of his life was at stake. “You‘ve gotta give people a chance,” Moore said.

Judge O’Keefe replied that Moore should  “listen more and talk less,” and set a tentative trial date for Sept. 23.

Due to the uncertainty over whether Moore would retain his counsel, the judge granted Moore’s counsel more time to work things out and discuss the case.

Parties are slated to return March 29.